Meeting of President Herzog with the chairmen of the Parliamentary Parties Mr. Godo welcomed President Herzog and gave a brief introduction to the Republican Party as a right-wing party. For some time, Mr. Godo said, we have been watching with concern the activation of certain countries toward a Slavic-Orthodox alliance, the consequences of which could be dangerous for the Balkans and threaten our Nation in particular. In this context, the Republican Party has always called for the policy of the Albanian state in Europe to be oriented toward the countries that are our natural allies, first and foremost Germany, Italy, Austria, Turkey, etc. Domestically, the question of the future of democracy arises. We clearly see the danger of socialism's return. Recently, the Albanian Right-Wing League was formed as a political force that will oppose this danger. As for [text continues outside the frame]. As for President’s question about the direction in which Germany’s assistance is sought, Mr. Godo said, I have no specific request, because we seek cooperation in every respect and in every field. In his closing remarks, President Herzog spoke about the situation in former Yugoslavia, which has gone back to the 1920s. There, they are fighting over borders, a phenomenon belonging to the Balkan mentality. It is difficult for us to talk with the Serbs, the President said, which is why I came to Albania, where we find people to talk with. Speaking about Albania, the President said that your problem is mainly economic and, from this point of view, you are the last country on the Continent. Germany will provide all possible assistance, but we are not pleased when people speak of a leading role for Germany in Europe. The era of hegemonies is over, and we cannot go against the policy we have built over the past 40 years. The President particularly emphasized the excellent relations with France and the other countries of Europe. His entire conversation was frank, far-sighted, and benevolent.

He had come to forget the pain caused by his wife’s death, they would say that summer of 1984, when Franz Josef Strauss, a figure in German politics, set foot on Albanian soil for the first time. “He has come to forget the pain caused by his wife’s death,” they would say that summer of 1984, when the German political figure Franz Josef Strauss set foot on Albanian soil for the first time. Until then, he was known through the propaganda of E. Hoxha’s regime as an “ultra-reactionary,” a “neo-Nazi,” an “sworn enemy of communism” and, naturally, of socialist Albania, etc. The possibility that Strauss had political motives for coming to Albania, the country with the most orthodox communism in Europe, could not even be contemplated. Yet the efforts of the prominent politician were not in vain. It was not long before diplomatic relations were established between the two countries. During one of his visits to Albania, as he was walking up one of the steep streets of the city, [text unclear/corrupt: “të shumta prapa Italisë, që falë afërsisë gjeografike dhe televizionit ka hyrë shumë më tepër se ne në vendin e lirive të fundit”], the German press wrote at the time, commenting on Genscher’s unforgettable visit to Tirana. That visit was very important [continues outside the frame]. The regime of E. Hoxha had branded him “ultrareactionary,” “neo-Nazi,” “a political motives for Strauss’s arrival in Albania could not even be imagined, in the country with the most orthodox communism in Europe. There was even talk of Strauss making “a transit passage from Yugoslavia to Greece through Albania.” Little time had passed since the publication of the dictator’s book “Imperialism and the Revolution,” which also attacked “the fascist” Strauss; moreover, the dictator himself was still alive. But Strauss’s arrival in totalitarian Albania on two further occasions showed that the reason for his first visit to Albania was neither his wife’s death nor the use of Albanian territory as a transit route, but something more. At that time, when E. Hoxha had not died, when the process of decomposition of the communist system had not begun (Gorbachev had not yet reached the summit of the Soviet state pyramid), Strauss in a way resembled his predecessors Hahn, Thumann, etc. But while they dug into the opaque layers of the centuries to find the links between the Albanians and their Illyrian ancestors, Strauss explored the darkness of Enverian totalitarianism to find a way to open a window, so that isolated Albania could see powerful Germany and, through it, Europe, which it is still striving to join to this day. In Gjirokastër, someone from a group of German tourists would jokingly say to him: “Mr. Strauss, it seems to me you’ve decided to become a fanatical communist!” “I’ve been to China too, and I didn’t become a Maoist,” the Bavarian prime minister would reply at once. Up to this point, it seemed we were dealing more with a personal side of Strauss, with a preference or weakness of his for Albania. But the arrival of German Foreign Minister Hans Dietrith Gensher in the autumn of 1987 showed that this was not merely a matter of personal preferences or nostalgia. Gensher’s visit, before his country’s ambassador had even arrived—a departure from normal diplomatic procedure—showed that little communist Albania occupied a not insignificant place in the policy of great Germany. “We must hurry. We are ...”—whether regarding Germany’s commitments toward Albania or R. Alia’s promises, made during that visit, to give Germany a privileged position in Albania’s relations with the world, especially with the West. Ordinary Albanians, who followed with great attention the first visit by a Western foreign minister to their communist country, breathed a sigh of relief for a moment. God was helping them hasten the end of half a century of suffering. Albania would be the first communist country to break through the Iron Curtain, supported by Europe’s locomotive. But these hopes would remain within the bounds of illusion, or self-delusion, for only a short time. The words spoken by R. Alia in the talks would remain on paper. Albania would continue to stay in its bunker and mbit. Correspondent of “Republika” German President Herzog meeting citizens of Kavaja yesterday Photo: Armando Babani

From Mr. Godo’s speech at the rally in Durrës On Tuesday, February 28, at the Palace of Sports in Durrës, in the presence of more than a thousand people, the Albanian Right-Wing League held its second rally, following the one in Elbasan, with members of the League’s constituent entities and its supporters. At this second presentation of LDSH to the Albanian electorate, the opening speech was given by Agron Hidri, chairman of the Association of Former Persecutees for Durrës. After that, beginning with the current chair of LDSH, Mr. Kurt Kola, all the League’s leaders spoke. In their speeches they elaborated on the key points of the League’s platform and tried to clarify all the questions raised about this coalition in the press and elsewhere. The meeting went on longer than expected, and after the speeches by the LDSH leadership, the public showed particular interest and had many questions for the leaders of the right. The public’s interest focused especially on the League’s program and platform, as well as on ways to resolve some of the nation’s major problems. “Republika” correspondent The Socialists are gathering the peasantry for the upcoming elections. Servet Pëllumbi has invited the Democratic Alliance and the Social Democrats to form a coalition. The former suggest that, “for the sake of Albania,” they will form a coalition with whoever wins, while Gjunushi is postponing the choice until after the National Council, which means that he too accepts it, but is raising his own price. The Socialists have formed a shadow government and announced its governing program. Everything is ready; only election day is awaited, the frontal assault for the Socialists to return to power. The Albanian electorate, which voted by more than two thirds for democracy, will not accept the Socialists’ return to power in any form. But this electorate is disappointed and divided. The reform begun with the denial of property, which put the economy on a dead-end road, communist-style bureaucracy, suffocating corruption, and the absence of law and order have made the Democratic Party’s rule even less acceptable. Therefore, most of the electorate, which cannot bear the sight of the Socialists and no longer even likes to think about them, will for the most part vote neither for a parliament nor for a government that brought about this confusion. On the basis of this general assessment, we say that the social-communist danger is real. Those who do not want to believe this are unable to judge politically, or are too occupied with other matters unrelated to the interests of the country and democracy. We remember the Albanian Right-Wing League; we created it late, but we created it all the same, and we are calling on the electorate to rally around us. Every party sees itself as the center of the world and claims tens of thousands of members and supporters. But you learn the truth about yourself when the votes are counted. We in the League will go into the elections united, and this strengthens our belief that we can open the way for the Right to power. Do not judge us so much by our personal abilities as League leaders, but by the goals we pursue, set out in the program. We have the necessary forces and teams for governing under our broad program. We have broad organizations, whose ranks include honest, educated, and capable people who can govern. Finally, our candidates for members of parliament, ministers, and judges will be the country’s best people—people who stand for private property, individual initiative, and the free market, and who are clear opponents of socialism. We have little time to reach an understanding and very limited means of explaining ourselves. But we know that the electorate can understand us quickly. We believe that the country can find its path to recovery through our entrepreneurs and foreign investors. For four years they have been coming here from various parts of the world, some of them ten times in a row, because they know that Albania has considerable wealth and a geographical position that facilitates trade, transport, and communications. But they do not see political stability, a legal framework, a suitable financial system, or good order. Above all, they do not find the legal owner with whom [continues on page 3].

German President Roman Herzog supported the aspirations for autonomy of the ethnic Albanians of the truncated Yugoslavia before the international community. “We know that half of the Albanian people live in other countries, and we understand your concern about the ongoing displacement of Albanians in Kosovo,” Herzog declared in the Albanian Parliament on the first day of his two-day visit. “It cannot be justified.” “A solution to Kosovo’s problems remains part of the overall solution for former Yugoslavia, without which Serbia and Montenegro’s reintegration into the community of states will not take place,” he added amid applause. ATSH

The General Council of SHPA Çamëria convened At its meeting yesterday, the General Council of the Patriotic Political Society “Çamëria” reviewed the work of its executive committee since its previous meeting and the activities of the Çamëria delegation at UNPO, which it described as very successful. In these circumstances, as international bodies and organizations are also being made aware of the Çam issue, the council considered the government’s lack of responsiveness particularly important, as the “Çamëria” society has been left without an office for a year. The General Council of the Patriotic Political Society “Çamëria” focused particularly on the expected visit to Tirana by Greek Foreign Minister Papulias. It expressed its confidence that Papulias’s visit would serve the spirit of understanding between our two peoples. The General Council of the Patriotic Political Society “Çamëria” welcomed Mr. Papulias’s preliminary statement that the Greek government would legalize Albanian refugees in Greece and called it a sure gateway to resolving the problems between the two countries, among which the Çam issue is undoubtedly the most important. Taking into account the important place this issue will also occupy in the Serreqi-Papulias talks, the Council authorized the executive committee to request a meeting with Mr. Papulias to discuss the possibilities and means of resolving the Çam issue. Spokesperson for the Patriotic Political Society “Çamëria” NEXHAT MERXHUSHI

They’ve left me out in the sun. They haven’t put me in the shade. How is it possible that all those men are in the shade and they’ve left poor me out in the sun? Why should I govern in the sun while they’re in the shade? Men in the shade... but how long can this go on? It wasn’t like this once. All those statesmen—and shade. Shame on you. What do they have that I don’t, that they should leave me out in the sun? Or are they perhaps more intelligent? Or have they contributed more to democracy? They’ve only sped up the reform more than I have. I admit that! They won’t put me on the lists of those in the shade, but there’s something you should know! My lists have always been more accurate than theirs. My lists have gone up in flames. I will form a government in flames. All the left-wing and quasi-left-wing parties will take part. Those parties that claim to be left-wing but really aren’t will not be included. You shouldn’t be surprised if someone doesn’t adhere to protocol. The people aren’t the people anymore, and friends have never followed protocols. For friends, Sundays in the city are without protocol, otherwise they wouldn’t be friends. With friends, the main thing is to have the mandate. The next elections are early elections, because precisely in the year 1352 of the Draft Constitution written by me, they will be held abroad. All eligible voters will go on an outing at least 1,502 km away to vote. The votes will be transported to a neighboring country and counted after a year. People who cannot go abroad are not allowed to participate in the elections. Such people deserve neither to be elected nor to elect. You can’t say that I don’t know which constitution is better. This latest one is very good, but I’m embarrassed to admit it because the faction wasn’t also invited to take part in drafting it. The invited faction of my party wrote long ago from where...

At a press conference held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, before more than 200 journalists, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in the former Yugoslavia, M. Zaviçeki, called on the authorities in Skopje to take concrete steps to reduce the tensions that have arisen in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia over the opening of public schools at the University of Tetovo. In a brief statement, he emphasized that this is a legitimate and inalienable right of the Albanians. He expressed regret over the grave situation that has arisen in that republic following the opening of the Albanian-language university, noting that the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia must make corrections by respecting its own rights, which, as Mazoviecki emphasized, are in keeping with the population of Macedonia. Speaking about the current situation in Kosovo, whose grave condition, he said, had long been anticipated in his most recent report, Mazoviecki stressed that the facts point to an increase in repression, adding that such conditions heighten the risk of a conflict breaking out.

At the invitation of Albanian President Sali Berisha, German President Roman Hercog arrived in Tirana for a two-day official visit to Albania. Yesterday, Hercog held talks with Berisha and Albanian Prime Minister Aleksandër Meksi. He also delivered a speech before the Albanian parliament. The visit was also marked by the signing of a “joint declaration” which, according to the German ambassador to Albania, Klaus Veler, “has the value of a treaty of friendship.” The document was signed by Albanian Foreign Minister Alfred Serreqi and Dieter Kantrip, State Secretary at the German Foreign Ministry.

To Albanian Television After watching the television report on the rally of the Albanian Right-Wing League, organized on February 27, 1995, in the city of Durrës, the spokesperson of the Albanian Republican Party noticed that the journalist described Mr. Sabri Godo, chairman of the PRSH, as the leader of the LDSH. In view of this, we are obliged to reiterate that the current chairman of the LDSH is Mr. Kurt Kola, chairman of the association of former political prisoners. As for Mr. Sabri Godo, the chairman of the PRSH, he is only the representative of one of the constituent groups that make up the Albanian Right-Wing League. The press and media organizations should be made aware of these facts in advance. Spokesperson of the PRSH

Defending the truth p. 3 AIDS is old in our country p. 2 Identity crisis in Albania p. 2

Eid al-Fitr