“... leaving my country, I have confidence that I will return to it again; when I say this, I have in mind a return not after a catastrophe, but after a real democratization...” ISMAIL KADARE Paris 5.1.1990 In recent years I have somewhat noticed that critics who had begun preparing monographs on well-known poets first put on the market books on Konica and Noli, who are known to have been two of the first dissidents of Albanian literature, who left for the West, where they lived by benefiting from creative freedom in foreign lands. Later it was Kadare’s turn too, with the book “The Disagreement.” Following this logic, we can look at comparisons between Kadare and the two above-mentioned figures of Albanian letters and find similarities. It is enough to remember that, like Konica and Noli, he had studied in the West, in Moscow, that he had fallen out with the government, his publications had been banned, etc. All this had placed him in the paradox of a classic dissident. However, if we were to view Kadare from another perspective, from that of the emancipation of Albanian society during the period of totalitarianism, which has nothing to do with dissidence, we would understand that the writer’s role was much greater. Albania was the country where writers had the misfortune of having to serve ideologies and regimes, willingly or unwillingly. Precisely for this reason they found themselves in their specific role during the period the country was going through, being part of its destiny, whether as representatives of freedom of thought or as carriers of a culture that needed air. For many years Kadare has been one of the figures who became a symbol of this tendency. For this reason, the question that has been raised — should he return to Albania — is not only a question about the return of a person. It touches our relationship with literature, with freedom, with the past and with the future. Should he return? Yes, but not in a climate of revenge, not in a closed Albania, not in a country where the writer must again remain silent. He must return to a civilized Albania, where the free word is no longer a luxury and where culture is not seen as a threat. If once the writer left in order to save the word, today he must return to make it part of our daily life. His return would be an event not only for the literary world, but for the emancipation of our society itself.

PRESIDENT ALA HANDS OVER THE KEYS Today it will circulate around the environment for the name... PS a few years of the dictatorship work, but [...] party comrades[?]... Just back from the meeting of the Political Bureau, where they decided to elect a president, Enver Hoxha did not seem calm. But what about 1949, the year of Tirana, did the president not seem so? They had found out: Pride from the meeting m[?]ga comrade Genci The president... I certainly do not worship at all being not of the people. Don’t you see? After all, I was governing a state and not donkeys! Don’t you accept it? Come in now and hand over the keys to comrade Stafa! Continues on page 3

APPEAL by political parties and social organizations sent to the people of the Lezhë district The parties: the Republican Party, the Agrarian Party, the Ecological Party, the Party of Labour of Albania, the Organization of War Veterans, the Committee of Independence Veterans, the Federation of Cooperativists of the Lezhë District, address this appeal to the people of our district. In recent days our country has been going through a difficult period. Calls for calm, understanding and work must be heard by everyone. Every rash action, every unnecessary clash, every incitement to conflict can seriously damage the lives of citizens and the prospects of democracy. We call on the citizens of Lezhë to keep calm, avoid violent actions, and show political and civic maturity. No one should fall victim to provocations. Only with patience, dialogue and understanding can the difficulties of this moment be overcome. Lezhë has valuable traditions of civic spirit and patriotism. Let us preserve these values, protect public property, help one another and work to calm the situation. (Continues on page 2)

Interview with Mr. GENC HOLI, Minister of Finance. IN THE NEXT ISSUE. DRITA KOSTURI — a life protected from corruption and internment, interview taken by our newspaper’s correspondent in Tirana, LUAN PËNGILI Excerpt: Question: Which persecution weighed most heavily on you? Answer: That of the years of insecurity. After the dismissal twice during the time of glasnost, my imprisonment of nearly 15 years made me morally unsuitable. Question: What relationship did you have with Nexhmije Hoxha during your school years? Answer: I knew Nexhmije and her daughter from close up, openly below with full conviction in writing. Question: Can the truth about the killing of Qemal Stafa come out and which people could speak about this? Answer: Nothing is forgotten, on this matter should speak...

Writing one night with Drilon Kastrati, oh comrades! Heart shaken, what has been embroidered for me? “What are you revolutionizing us for? Is there or is there not a youth organization in the cooperative?” KOR[?] how do you play? What does he answer? — We are not members of any co[?]lective, Comrade Enver the mighty? Do they want you the same because if there is no ability how can something be lowered? Meanwhile bring immediately: we are there Albanians but with mind— we will think of some work. MOLLO MEHU