One of the points in the Republican Party’s draft program that has sparked discussion is its opposition to abortion. Within the framework of individual freedoms and rights is also the freedom to have an abortion. It is precisely by exploiting this fact that those who support abortion criticize the Republican Party’s draft program on this point, as though it “limits an indisputable right,” or accuse it of “conservatism,” etc. But the Republican Party, as a party that gives a central place to the cause of the nation and the Homeland, both in its program and in all its activities, cannot under any circumstances agree with those rights or freedoms when respecting or exercising them even slightly harms the cause in question. When it comes to abortion, its freedom is entirely acceptable and even recommendable, without hesitation or limits, Albanians are gripped by a great desire to leave here as soon as possible, despite some positive changes in certain parameters. For us, the problem of a shortage of young people has arisen. This artificially raises the average age of the population in Albania. But, in the previous issue of our newspaper, in an article and even recommendable; indeed, without hesitation, we could say that it is also uncriticizable for a country such as China, which has problems with overpopulation. But if we take our own country into account, ... own country into account, ... Whether respecting or implementing them in any way undermines the matter entirely acceptable and even recommendable; indeed, without hesitation, we could call it patriotic for a country like China and others that have problems with overpopulation. But if we consider our own country, the opposite problem is far more troubling. Here, we cannot speak of overpopulation; in fact, we have not yet reached the numbers needed to fill Albanian territory. In other words, we are in deficit in this respect. The problem is that, with the opening of the borders, Albanians have been seized by a strong positive changes in certain indicators that have occurred recently. And the overwhelming majority of this army trying to pour into Europe is made up of young people. Thus, of the roughly 500,000 Albanians who have already left Albania (unfortunately, the state has not provided any precise figure), without the slightest exaggeration, more than 400,000 are under the age of 25. So, in addition to the need to populate the country’s territory, this artificially skews the age of the population in Albania. However, in the previous issue of our newspaper, an article about abortions and the consequences of abortion being legal gave a chilling figure that our government officials and lawmakers should think about carefully. In the capital alone, 35,000 lives are ended by abortions every year. A very simple calculation shows that, in a short time, this figure exceeds the number of Albanians who have left Albania over the last five years. (continued on p. 3)

Two small children sitting next to each other.

In the next issue: With Father Nikoll Marku Noli’s revival—the beginning of unity, not of division among Albanians Father Nikoll Marku celebrates Mass in Albanian On Sunday, the Mass led by Father Nikoll Marku at the Orthodox Church in Elbasan took place normally, despite the efforts made by Janullatos’s administration to create disturbances in the Church using propaganda leaflets and believers sent by bus from Korça. Alongside Orthodox believers, there were also Muslim and Catholic believers in the Church. Four years believers of other faiths. Father Nikoll Marku was ordained as a priest in accordance with the rules of the Church and has received the approval of the believers. Father Marku led his first Mass on October 8, 1995, in the presence of the Albanian archimandrite Theopan Koja, who is one rank below the archbishop in the hierarchy of the Orthodox Church. A year earlier, despite the pleas of the believers of Elbasan, Archbishop Janullatos did not ordain Marku as a priest, saying, “I have asked (continued on p. 3)”

Today the leadership of the Socialist Party will set the date of the 12th Congress of the Reconstructed Workers’ Party - m-1, Socialist. Servet Pellumbi will deliver the report, “On recent developments in the Marxist camp.” The new leader of the PS will be elected using a perforated ballot. There is a chance that four people will be elected. The PS’s election strategy will be: “we will win because their mother has died.” Who the Mother is will be clarified after the elections. There will be hunger strikes at party headquarters all over the country to protest against the genocide law. Analysts predict, and observers specify, that the hunger strike will last six years and three months. Paper consumption has increased sixfold. Faxes sent to Europe account for a quarter of paper consumption. If this pace continues, Albania’s forests will be laid waste. Janullatosi revived the Albanian Church and has expressed a wish to leave, in order to keep the promise he made when he arrived. The third autumn will bring new quirks in the field of realpolitik and economic policy.

The largest market—buying and selling houses P. 3 The fate of NATO’s chief is in Parliament’s hands P. 5 A hippodrome in Tirana P. 4