…There could have been no other ending to a process (against the former communist apparatchiks) based on the number of coffees consumed, on medical expenses or trips abroad, and other such “trivialities”…. The decision of the Court of Appeal, which overturned that of the Tirana District Court of First Instance, restored the freedom of the former president of Albania and former head of the Albanian communists after the death of dictator Hoxha. Thus, after the five Greek minority members, Ramiz Alia too bids farewell to prison. Thus, among the three trials that have been the subject of discussion and controversy in the context of the political struggle between the government and the DP and left-wing forces, this is the second time the authorities have backed down, both over the grounds for the release and over the purpose of the arrest and conviction of Alia and the former leaders of the PPSH. Now that R. Alia is free, reflecting on the moment and political situation in which he was arrested, and considering the trial organized against him, the charges brought and the steps through which his release from prison proceeded, all this leads to the conclusion that R. Alia was arrested to give the government a namesake for its “fight against communism.” It can be said even more that R. Alia was a “sweet” offered to satisfy those broad layers of society that suffered under the communist dictatorship. But even more than the reasons for Ramiz Alia’s arrest and conviction, it is of interest to know how his release will affect the Albanian political scene. Like the other high-profile trials of the past two years, the Alia trial could not escape extreme politicization, taking shape in an endless series of polemics between the DP and its supporters on the one hand, and the PS and several other political forces on the other. As a result of this, judicial, which have been the subject of debate and controversy within the framework have backed down, finding means that may not be very convincing. The route taken to secure R. Alia’s release leaves you wondering not only about his release from prison; all of to lend credibility to the government’s “fight against communism.” It may be said instead that R. Alia and the other block leaders, judging by the way they were sentenced and the charges on which the judges based their decisions, served as a [??] of how to escape extreme politicization, embodied in the eyes of public opinion, the DP has created the image of the defeated. Continued on p. 2

Yesterday, in Tetovë, a delegation of the LDSH, composed of Messrs. Sabri Godo, chairman of the Republican Party, Mr. Musa Maçi, representative of the Association of the Politically Persecuted, and Mr. Xhevdet Libohova, representative of the National Front Party, met with the chairmen of the main Albanian political parties in Macedonia, as well as Albanian members of parliament in the Macedonian Parliament. We will report in more detail on the LDSH meetings in Tetovë in upcoming issues.

With 311 votes to 147, one of the PS vice-chairmen, Ilir Meta, replaced the until- until now leader of this forum, Pandeli Majko. This constitutes what could be called the highlight of the congress of the Eurosocialist Forum, which brings together the youth of the PS. Putting a PS vice-chairman at the head of its youth forum is perhaps intended to somewhat obscure the idea that had begun to circulate and had become a favorite theme of DP propaganda, concerning a Further on p. 2

Truly strange, but more than the crowds themselves, these events are being experienced by the state institutions and the Greek press itself. Now frightened, they understand that they are suffering from nothing other than the chauvinism they chose to impose upon the blind crowds... More details p. 6

The Macedonian constitution is the main obstacle Yesterday in Geneva, the Albanian–Macedonian talks concluded, having taken place over three days in the presence of Ambassador Gert Arens. According to the newspaper “Bujku,” the talks covered the issue of higher education for Albanians in Macedonia, specifically the legalization of the University of Tetovo, the law on local self-government, and the right to use the languages of the nationalities. The parties were unable to find common ground or make any concrete progress toward resolving these problems. The main obstacle to resolving these problems is Macedonia’s current constitution itself, and, as representatives of the Albanian side stressed, no political solution can be found without amending it.

Refugees from Kosovo will not receive citizenship The TANJUG agency reported in recent days that the “Federal Government of Yugoslavia” had completed drafting the new citizenship bill, which is expected to be submitted to the assembly for approval soon. It stipulates that Yugoslav citizenship will be granted to all citizens of Serbia and Montenegro who have registered their residence in Yugoslav territory since April 27, 1992. The law on dual citizenship, except in special cases, does not allow citizenship to be acquired but, as TANJUG points out, provides only for the right to renounce it, etc. ATSH

The history of the Party of Labour Democratic repression. Clandestine groups under the noses of Musaraj’s and Gazidede’s militiamen. Mass internment of the children of old Party militants in the USA, More details p. 5 With the vice-chairman of the ARP, Mr. Fatmir MEDIU Conservatism — this is what today’s politics lacks I believe conservatism is what today’s politics lacks as a whole, and ele-

I believe conservatism is what today’s politics lacks as a whole, and the key elements of this political current lay the foundations for a real and consistent development of democracy. whole, and the key elements of this political current lay the foundations for a real and consistent development of democracy. More details p. 3

The existence of two or three nations within a single people is not an uncommon occurrence. North Korea and South Korea, Romania and Moldavia, Greece and Cyprus, West and East Germany and Austria, etc., are examples of this. More details p. 4

By signing this petition, you defend lawful ownership of land. You can sign the petition at the local branches of PR, PBK, PBD, PLL, the Association of Kulaks, and the Association of the Politically Persecuted in your district.

signs, Aranit Çela, Hekuran Isai, Zylyftar Ramizi, Gramoz Ruçi, Nevzat Haznedari... The list will be so long that even if the People’s Assembly does not take the petition into consideration, under the new Code of Criminal Procedure the petition will immediately become law. A week has passed since our acceptance into the Council of Europe, and nothing is being done. How long must we wait before we become like the rest of Europe? We were not isolated for nothing. We want to be equal to the other European countries. Is this what we have been working so hard for all this time?! Is this what we have been arguing about?! Next week, ratification of the agreement on accession to the Council of Europe is on the agenda of the Albanian Parliament. There are reports that the Islamic deputies will vote against it and will demand that all members of the CoE first join the Islamic Conference and only then vote in favor of accession to the CoE. If it is not unconstitutional, it would be good for the European Parliament elections to be held on the same date as the elections in Albania. This would save Eurobarometer and other institutions a lot of money. Hey, people! Listen up and pay attention! After getting out of prison, Ramiz Alia asked to sign the intellectuals’ petition condemning half a century of genocide. After Comrade Ramiz, it is expected that this petition will also be signed by...