Who will be next after him? The main thing has happened: Preç Zogaj was eliminated in Lezhë from the PD candidacy, and those who relish this elimination are rubbing their hands. In any case, this could not have been expected, since it was only Preçi who, on 31 March last year, won the election with dignity, with over 81 percent of the votes. So when he won then, at a time when the communist plumes were still in people's eyes, it stands to reason that this time he was sure to win. But the concern was not about a PD candidate winning in Lezhë. The hammer is striking somewhere else. The extremist faction in Lezhë, led by elements with fascist leanings—and by fascist we mean vengeful—such as Esat Myftari and Agron Belishova, had planned the elimination beforehand. They had acted using Stalinist methods in all the PD sections, openly speaking even of Zogaj’s «socialist leanings»! Thus the ground was prepared for his elimination. First, Besnik Mustafaj. I sincerely regret that perhaps we will not have many prominent intellectuals; I regret that the real democratic opposition is reducing its ranks of intelligent people. This should not happen. In a corner, the PS politicians sit rubbing their hands at these eliminations. Thus, little by little, every day, the PS is conducting its election propaganda in its own favor through the PD’s extreme behavior. And sadly, the opposition continues its purges and its elbowing battles. The new Parliament needs intellectuals, not careerists; it needs a pure spirit, not pseudo-democrats, and worse still, fascists, whether from the PS or PD camp. NIKOLLË LESI

It happened (at last it will happen—

CAN «VOICE OF AMERICA» FEEL GOOD ABOUT XHEVDET SHEHU’S VOICE?! It happened (at last, what was expected will happen)...! Albanian paradoxes reach as far as America...! We live here in a climate of paradoxes, yet we were surprised when we heard on «Voice of America» (in the Albanian language) that its correspondent in Tirana was... Comrade Xhevdet Shehu! Why were we surprised? Why were we astonished, and why were we concerned? We will try to explain: It is known that anyone can speak on «Voice of America»; anyone there can tell all four truths, as the saying goes. We have grown used to hearing a range of national and thoroughly democratic figures on that radio, whose words we have awaited with great interest and respect; through «Voice... of» America, not the voice of the people(!), they have conveyed truths that still could not be spoken here, in our information media. But how can we regard the voice of... Comrade Xhevdet Shehu as such, when throughout this entire period in the pluralist press he has not «dared» even once to speak openly in favor of the opposition and democracy?! Then why was such a spokesman, a representative of the new democratic journalism, chosen (and accepted) for «Voice of America»? When Stalin’s statue was tottering on the verge of being toppled in Shkodër, it was this Xh. Shehu who wrote the report with the enticing title «What Is Happening in Shkodër?», whose content was... not the violence and blood being spilled in Shkodër, but the high yields being achieved under the leadership of the Party and Comrade Ramiz! When hundreds of thousands in Tirana brought down Enver Hoxha’s monument, Xh. Shehu tried to recall, in private conversations, «the good things about Enver». It was from these ways of thinking that Comrade Hysni Milloshi set out when, in one of His interviews, he called Xhevdet Shehu «the brave son of Heroic Mallakastër»! All of Xhevdet Shehu’s jokes have a target; quite by chance, they are only... the opposition! And finally, as the «Voice of America» correspondent, how has he covered the great rally «For Kosovo, with Kosovo», the different political forces’ positions on National Reconciliation, and the beginning of the election campaign, which is completely unequal and extremely intolerant? It must be said briefly: It does no honor to Albanian democracy, and especially to its many democratic journalists, that the interpreter of such processes, which are replacing social systems, should be none other than Comrade Xhevdet Shehu. Can «Voice of America» feel good about Xh. Shehu’s voice? YLLI RAKIPI

Last week, in one of the halls of the Palace of Culture in Lezhë, the establishment of the Albania-Germany Friendship Association branch for the Lezhë district was presented. The cultural attaché of the German Embassy in our country, Mr. PETER KRISTIAN HAUKE, was present. The ceremony was opened by Mr. Lulzim Peti, chairman of the Lezhë branch, who spoke about the activities of the founding group and also gave a brief presentation about Germany. The association’s statute was presented to those attending by Mr. Lekë Gjoni. Mr. Peter Kristian Hauke greeted those present, thanked them for the invitation, and expressed his willingness to answer the many questions asked by those attending. The special feature of the event was the recitations in German by a group of third- and fourth-grade children from the elementary school, prepared with great enthusiasm by Mr. Bibë Alia. The already well-known group «Djemtë e Detit» performed German-language songs.

As part of the meetings Albanian socialists have been holding in several districts of the country, on one of the election days during the past week, PS Deputy Chairman Spiro Dede met with members and supporters of the ... PD in Lezhë. This happened because those who had come to the front were not supporters of the Socialist Party, but only members of the PD branch in Lezhë. Mr. Dede explained socialist ideas to those present, while the participants told him that the opposition would win the election. BLERIM KOLA

Through the Labyrinths of Gold, By TEODOR KEKO. IN THE NEXT ISSUE: Continued — THROUGH THE LABYRINTHS OF GOLD, by TEODOR KEKO: ● What does part of the «Top Secret» documentation say? ● The gold massacre in the city of Shkodër. ● The enigma of Albanian gold and the enigma of Albanian democracy.

FATOS NANO Date: 22 February Time: 24° City: Shkodër Venue: At «Ura e thive» Platform: From two bunkers on the eastern side Personal equipment: Helmet and shield of the sampists SALI BERISHA Date: 24 February Time: 11° Location: Mallakastër area Venue: Main square Personal equipment: Portrait of Comrade Enver Hoxha Escort: Sulo Gradeci HYSNI MILLOSHI Date: 26 February Time: (after midnight, illegally) Location: Kavajë Venue: Secret Equipment: Slogan «Enver-Hitler» NAMIK HOTI Date: 26 February Time: 5° Location: Vlorë Venue: The olive hills Equipment: Beehives, an axe, juniper juice DANE TELLALLI