From the very beginning of this year, PRSH, through its deputy, Mr. Mehmet Çeliku, submitted to the Presidium of the People’s Assembly a draft law on property issues: The Republican Party contacted the Presidium of this Assembly to obtain a decision on when consideration of this draft law would be placed on the agenda. Until a few days ago, PRSH was expecting this draft law to be considered, and then, quite unexpectedly, the absurd decision of the Assembly Presidium was communicated: the Republican draft law would not be considered. The Republican Party finds that the action of the Parliamentary Presidium is unconstitutional for the following reasons: 1. It denies a constitutional right to the deputy, who, under Article 23 of the Main Constitutional Provisions, has the right of legislative initiative. 2. It unjustly shifts the powers of the Assembly itself, which, under Article 16 of the Main Constitutional Provisions, is the body that decides whether to accept, amend, or reject a draft law. 3. To justify this unconstitutional action, the supposed argument was used that such a draft law had already been considered. Not only is the draft law we submitted to Parliament substantially different from the one submitted by the Property Association “With Justice,” but even if it were the same, since it was submitted by a deputy representing a parliamentary political party, the Presidium was obliged to refer it to Parliament. 4. This action by the Presidium confirms its wholly unjust position, which it has maintained toward the submitted draft for three months now. PRSH knows the real reason why this law has not been brought before Parliament. Putting this draft law to a vote and voting on it would discredit the PD deputies in the eyes of Albanian public opinion, since they would inevitably have to confront the PD-PS alliance on this cardinal issue. If the current law on land constitutes an essential part of the PD’s program, then its deputies have no reason to feel ashamed of voting alongside their fellow countrymen, the PS deputies. The Republican Party will not cease its efforts to resolve the property issue, which is one of the pillars of its policy. Despite this position, PRSH will continue consistently to demand that Parliament consider this draft law, also by appealing to the Constitutional Court. E. mitred, Steering Committee of PRSH Tirana, 28.09.1994

Thousands of volumes of political and social books in all the schools in the various districts of Delvinë and Sarandë are to be pulped for cardboard. An instruction signed by Minister Anagnosti, which reached the education directorates in recent days, specifies the types of books and the procedure for removing them from library inventories. Implementation of this instruction will remove a considerable stock of books from 25 schools, especially secondary schools, creating an opportunity to acquire works of literature for their libraries, Ramiz Beqiri, director of the Delvinë Education Directorate, told ATSH.

Athens calls on Albania for “re-repatriation,” in connection with the five thousand [orinarët?] convicted of espionage in favor of Greece. Greek official spokesperson Veniellos declared that this trial, which will follow [1?], “gives Albania a chance to improve the climate of Albanian-Greek relations.” So far, Greece has rejected all proposals for dialogue made by Tirana, making the prior release of the five a condition.

The German Bundestag delegation, which arrived in Kosovo yesterday for a three-day visit, was received yesterday by the president of Kosovo, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova. The delegation, led by Peter Rosjenbahn, chairman of the parliamentary group for relations with Albania, stressed that the international community must take into account the peaceful policy of the Albanians and their readiness for dialogue, and must link the lifting of the embargo against Serbia to a resolution of the Kosovo issue.

The well-known German politician Hans Ditrih Gensher, the most popular politician according to opinion polls, was forced to return to the political scene because of problems in his Free Democratic Party. He promised to launch his candidacy for parliament again. As is known, Gensher had decided to leave the political scene after an intense political career crowned by German reunification in 1990. In 1992 he unexpectedly announced his departure from political life, explaining it on health grounds.

Petro Zannoni is studying the main provisions of the statute of a possible trade union of Albanian workers in Italy or Albania. The institutional profile of this latest initiative, which will be added to that of the current press office, consists in establishing a group of citizens with legal recognition, so that groups of self-employed and employed workers affiliated with Zannoni’s prospective union can take action when workers’ rights are not fully respected or are trampled on by employers. Pietro Zannoni, [Italianized?] representative of the Independent Press Office, who is fully engaged institutionally in links concerning Albanian information, says that “it will add an indisputable complement, so that the idea of creating a correspondence office for Albanian press organizations does not remain a sterile and isolated contribution, but becomes an initiative able to attract and protect the rights of Albanian citizens in Italy.” The Pietro Zannoni Press Office will in fact be an initiative with a social and institutional impetus in the sphere of expanding relations with Albania, ultimately making a valuable and necessary contribution to Albanian society through contributions of a cultural, journalistic and social nature. The project starts from the prospect of new cultural relations through which new resources and new contributions in the fields of information and culture can be created. To this end, Pietro Zannoni says that “the cultural commitment I have undertaken together with my colleagues cannot be limited to journalistic work, because in order to make a contribution of…” (continues on page 4)

On the eve of the 2nd PRSH Congress Has: With patriotic dedication to democracy In one of the halls of the “Pjetër Bogdani” Palace of Culture in the city of Krums, the [opening?] conference of the PR branch in the district of HAST was held; also present was the PRSH Presidium’s delegate, Mr. B r Ahla. In the report presented by Halit Kastrati, chairman of the branch’s steering committee, and in the questions and discussions that followed, the obligation of the Republicans of Has to integrate into the country’s political life was highlighted. The various speakers who took the floor at the conference considered increasingly active work by this PR branch and the PR as a whole essential because, as they said, the final solution to Has’s problems can be found only in the victory of the Republican alternative. In particular, the lands of Has’s former cooperatives should be returned to their owners, since the boundaries between the former [four?] and the villages are still not being accurately determined. The Republicans in this area are convinced that the PR will succeed in persuading others at the Republican Party Congress in Tëkë. In this context, the speakers also singled out the problem of compensating all those whose lands were flooded by the Fierza hydroelectric plant, without deceiving or keeping them waiting, as has happened until now. The current land law solves none of the cases involving land that was elsewhere, or land occupied by buildings, or land flooded by the hydroelectric plant. In the questions and discussions at this meeting, [the issue was raised] of how much PRSH can contribute to resolving these problems (continued on page 2)

On September 26, the 2nd Conference of the PR Branch for this district held its proceedings at the Palace of Culture in the city of Peqin. Members of the PRSH Steering Committee, Arben Buribaria, and the PR’s organizational sector coordinator, Kosta Sinomidhi, also took part. The report was delivered by the branch’s political secretary, Ruzhdi Shqarri. The report and delegates’ discussions reflected the branch’s work, the successes and difficulties of organizing, and the organizational functioning of the PR at the local level and through the Branch Council. The branch has made efforts to function normally, although the local authorities have not provided it with even the most basic conditions—the PR, despite being a parliamentary party in Peqin, does not have an office. The Republican Party in Peqin has fought courageously; it has even publicly criticized cases of corruption that have characterized the officials in power, doing so through the press, the newspaper “Republika,” and all its publications. Likewise, bureaucratic delays in returning property to its rightful owners have been vigorously attacked. This happened at the Garment Enterprise, where the Republicans’ intervention had an effect. The conference emphasized that the branch’s links with the Association for Property “With Justice” have been (continued on page 2)

On 27.09.1994, the 2nd Conference of the Mirditë branch of the Republican Party was held. The vice-chairman of the PR, Mr. Fatmir Mediu, and a member of the Steering Committee, Mr. Gjok Becaj, took part in its proceedings. The conference was preceded by a large meeting with PR members and supporters in Mirditë. A report was presented at the conference, and participants’ responses led to discussions and an account of progress in its implementation. Mr. Simon Preni was elected chairman of the PR branch, while Mr. Nok Marena was elected branch secretary. Representatives of the Association of the Persecuted and Political Prisoners, the Democratic Party, the Social Democratic Party, the Legality Party, the Democratic Party, and the Alb-Bakri Workers’ Union also sent greetings to the conference. (A fuller report will appear in the next issue.) “REPUBLIKA” Correspondent

On September 25, the Republican Party branch in the district of Gramsh held its 4th conference on the eve of the 2nd PRSH Congress. Delegates elected by all the district’s sections and sub-branches took part. Guests from among political figures also attended, who at this… (continued on page 2)

History has not treated our nation kindly. It has forced us to travel far along the roads of hell, and, having gone through this, we have often failed to learn from our painful experiences. Even today, the diplomatic cholera being prepared for us by our neighbors calls for measures that are both decisive and carefully considered. What is currently happening with our southern neighbor is another bout of strain and chronic tension, foreshadowing and making these diplomatic moments appear unpredictable and unclear. What is happening is another bout of strain and chronic tension, foreshadowing and making these diplomatic moments appear unpredictable and unclear. Several articles were published in the newspaper “Republika” in succession, beginning when the first signs of the diplomatic strain that exists today were taking shape. In those articles we drew the attention of Albanian foreign policy to what was approaching. 1. Greece is forcing its way forward in order to take the lead in the Balkans sooner. 2. It will very soon project its policy across the border into the Balkan countries and direct their policies. 3. Greek policy on the main issues of the Balkans was moving in the opposite direction from that of the EU. 4. Greek foreign policy was drawing ever closer to Serbian policy in the region, and Greece was turning into Milošević’s principal ally. 5. We also expected that with PASOK remaining in power, Greek policies of this kind would not change; on the contrary, they would naturally grow stronger and harsher. 6. There are political forces in Albania that are carriers of Greek policy and are trying to advance it both inside and outside the country. 7. The Albanian-Greek conflict has deep roots in history and will be a long-term issue in the future, etc. But it must be admitted that such warnings did not receive the attention they deserved, nor were the necessary countermeasures taken by the bodies responsible for formulating and implementing Albania’s foreign policy. Therefore, the first point to emphasize is the need for these powerful policymaking centers to give greater weight to the views and analyses made outside them. We hope things will be handled better in the future. This is a reason to give greater priority and careful attention to the political issues connected with our diplomacy, precisely because facts concerning the population in these territories, among other things, tend to fade from memory. What remains in people’s minds is the idea that Greece has claims against Albania. Today this may seem objectionable, mistaken, or foolish on the part of Greek diplomacy. But did discussion of the borders of the former BPS in 1941 and Yugoslavia not also seem that way? Today, discussion of the borders of these countries, based on the meetings and institutions of European politics, seems completely normal and contradictory. Thus, in European chanceries this train of thought—that Greece has territorial claims against Albania—persists, whereas we should create the opposite view, even if Europe labels us “troublemakers” or “quarrelsome.” It seems that Greek “ignorant” diplomacy willingly took on this “risk,” initially creating a conflict of its own making with Albania. But tomorrow Greece may put forward its demand “openly and democratically” at the international level, claiming its right to “peacefully, etc.” recover these territories for Greece. Albania, of course, would react very harshly and resolutely to these ever-present Greek chauvinist appetites. Then we would arrive at precisely the point where wise Europe intervenes for a “peaceful” solution acceptable to all sides, proposing compromises—for example, the creation of an Albanian-Greek Confederation, and so on. The question arises: would such a situation be favorable to Albania in the future? Anyone who knows the history of the Greek nation also knows the cunning of Odysseus, Troy, and the [Karament?]. Anyone who knows Greek politics will not find it fanciful that its diplomacy takes steps today that will matter decades later. This does not mean that Greek diplomatic cunning never fails; rather, it does not fail by being dismissed as foolish, but by taking the appropriate measures to ensure that it does fail. DK. ÇERCIZ MINGOMATAJ Head of the Foreign Affairs Sector of PRSH In issue 5 of the newspaper “Republika,” dated 23.06.1994, an article was published entitled “Why are meat prices so high? High prices in a time of cholera!” It is not right to drive people crazy. You have forgotten the collective farms and [arezat?] with which Comrade Ramiz was bringing democracy to Albania. Back then meat prices were low. You know, it is a crazy question: when they told Fidel Castro about this clever business of collective farms and [arezat?], do you know what he thought and said? “I may rule with my socialists for another year, but in my lifetime, a hundred years from now, I will get the answer from the Albanian Alia for making collective farms and [arezat?].” And he [unclear], getting rid of the madness by appealing to the whole living crowd for [asar?]. “No,” said the man named Murat, Oaman Sultan Murati. “Derdimene,” said the madwoman, “gather at the market on Wednesday to hear the interpellation. Dikle will talk about smuggling. Ulurim will talk about criminal matters. Legjua will talk about violence without violence.” “That isn’t true,” said the madwoman, “Leontiev Cuci and Luan Hadjaga have written the resolution to protect the resident. To protect them, or to hide them?” “Announce a tender,” said the madwoman, “a tender for the [kiosks?] work! Who will build these kiosks at the lowest price? We shouldn’t fear the officials who were paid for the kiosk work. They won’t return the money they took. I’ll give the latest information about cholera tomorrow,” said the madwoman. “Cholera is widespread. If the whole neighborhood is [unclear] to show the assets accumulated in recent years, people will understand that cholera threatens more than a few people. Political homosexuals will prevent Albania from joining the Council of Europe. Pray to God for political homosexuals,” the madwoman shouted. “There will be appointments,” said the madwoman. “Awards for sugar merchants and special awards for homosexuals. [Poethé?] Albania,” said the madwoman. “Long live the politicians! The Inter-Parliamentary Union will send a military force to Albania. The coordinator will be the [homoe kaqali?]. Derdimene,” said the madwoman. “Be careful with smuggling.” The chronicler

The potential of hypothetical contradictions Page 4 Politically mature peoples are not disheartened by defeats… Page 3 Is it around Has? Page 2 Conflict and tolerance Page 3