Yesterday, on 22 January 1991, two representatives of the Democratic Party, A. Imami and B. Rosi, met with the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Adil Çarçani. The purpose of the meeting was to make possible normal conditions for the DP’s activities and for it to take part in free and democratic elections. The DP representatives protested the ongoing violations of the law on meetings, the continual pressure and complicity of party committees and law-enforcement bodies in the districts of Tropojë, Tepelenë, Gjirokastër and Sarandë, as well as the inaccuracy of the information TVSH had broadcast concerning recent events. They expressed doubt as to whether, in today’s one-party state, two political lines might exist. The Chairman of the Council of Ministers assured them that the Albanian state has only one line, the official one, but that at the grassroots level the bureaucracy and conservatives remain in their old positions. Thus, in practical implementation there are excesses and mistakes, which we neither cause nor want, but which stem from the personal predispositions of officials in these districts. We know that Syria Dosti, first secretary of the party committee in the district of Sarandë, is being provoked, but we do not believe that he instigated the incident. These incidents, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers added, create disputes and destabilization. We will examine and address specific cases of incitement to excesses. As for TV, your criticism and request will be conveyed to the television directorate, and we believe there are shortcomings that need to be remedied. Television should give all parties and political organizations the opportunity to express their political views clearly on current developments. Regarding the cases alleged by the DP of «television» editing of interviews with DP representatives, the Head of Government expressed the view that these are unacceptable, indeed shameful. The DP representatives requested that the material conditions necessary for their activities be provided. The Chairman of the Council of Ministers informed them that the Council of Ministers had ordered that DP branches in the districts be provided with suitable premises, vehicles, telephones, typewriters and office supplies, and that the executive committees of the district party committees ensure all normal conditions for them. Correspondent of «Rilindja Demokratike»

An invalid economic equation

An invalid economic equation The renaming that the draft constitution gives the country—Socialist People’s Republic—and its emphasis in the preamble, «The free labor of free people is the decisive factor in the flourishing of the socialist homeland», in raising general and comprehensive prosperity, convince us that this is what will be built in Albania, as stated both in meetings of the People’s Assembly and elsewhere: a new life ... A market economy represents the Anglo-Saxon model of the economy, which in plain language means a model for developing the economy along capitalist lines! But the theoreticians who for 45 years have turned the word «capitalism» into an «omen and black devil» do not dare say that from now on they will build capitalism (even though they are seeking capitalist aid and loans); instead, they prefer the unfamiliar and enigmatic term «market economy». One little detail has also escaped notice: the market economy is based primarily on free initiative and private property. So... communist and private, too?! Rather than give some economist the task of searching through newspaper archives for quotations from my writings, I will excerpt just one paragraph: «The laboratory of the world economy showed that a mixed economy can be built without submitting either to the “myth” of the god Market (the Anglo-Saxon model) or to the practices of an all-powerful state (a planned economy).» In mid-1989, on the occasion of the opening of the Hungarian Stock Exchange, a symbol of capitalism in a socialist country, a Hungarian expert gave this interview to the French newspaper «Le Mond»: — The transition from a socialist economy to a market economy is not such an easy thing. This is not only because we lack a model, but also because we have nothing written down in theory. Thus, while much has been written about the transition from capitalism to socialism, our officials have not considered the opposite: the transition from socialism to capitalism. The theoreticians of economic reforms in the Soviet Union cry out: «Confess, capitalism»—because that is where they secure aid and loans. Mud thrown at the socialist revolution, which served as the starting point for building the Soviet socialist economy, now heading toward the abyss. For the Soviet Union, the Western capitalist economy (the market economy) has taken on the role of teacher! Yeltsin’s «500-day» plan aims to demolish every remnant of the economy... the country’s constitution: the People’s Socialist Republic, and its opening emphasis: in the flourishing of socialist prosperity and the rise in the general well-being and that of each individual» bi-ndhin the percentage, as in the meetings of the People’s Assembly, that beautiful socialist life would be built in Albania. Yet no more than 3–4 days after the publication of this historic document for the nation’s destiny, the PPSH program for the election campaign and the entire next legislative term was published in the newspapers «Zëri i popullit» and «Luftëtari» (organ of the Ministry of People’s Defense). One of the program’s economic objectives is: «To implement radical economic reform in order to replace the system of centralized command and administration with market-economy mechanisms...» Something strange: Albania will be both socialist and have a market economy! While for the communists this would be a real paradox, if the experts at the Institute of Marxist-Leninist Studies were to publish in the press a lesson explaining what a market economy is. The essence of that lesson would be: a mixed economy, with a proper balance between planning and the market economy, might also be better suited to the strategy of economic reforms in our country... But let us not forget that this article was published under self-censorship, because political pluralism did not yet exist. However, my colleagues in discussions and debates, and experts in some articles published in the foreign press, had understood my idea: when I spoke of a mixed economy, I had in mind the French experience of planning and the ideas of the well-known economist Zhak Monne, not our Stalinist-style planning methodology. Nevertheless, to become more fully convinced that the market economy and the socialist economy are not [the same?], let us take a «journey» through articles published in the foreign press. We will begin with Hungary. We do this for a reason: a few days ago, a government delegation visited there. In my writings, I will quote only one paragraph. «The laboratory of the world economy shows to the “myth” of the market god state (the planned economy). Such days ago, a government delegation visited there. In England, in the market economy (capitalist economy), the «Iron Lady» Theçer has made this analysis: «A person must build a good life for himself and his family. There is nothing wrong with creating wealth, but the passion for money for money’s sake must be condemned. The state should not dominate people’s lives; there is no reason for it to intervene in every aspect of ... MITRO ÇELA (Continued on page 2)

At a rally in the districts To inaugurate the establishment of the DP branch in Krujë, a DP rally was held in the town center on 19 January 1991 at 3:30 p.m. The rally was opened by the chairman of the DP branch in Krujë, K. Sh. Bashkim Elbasani. On behalf of the Democratic Party’s Initiative Commission, the rally was greeted by the Chairman of this Commission, Azem Hajdari. He emphasized that the Democratic Party is a party of compromise; we want social peace, but we will not compromise with the bureaucracy and the Party of Labour. The postponement of the elections is a victory for the democratic forces. Around 8,000 people took part in the rally. It proceeded in an orderly manner. Correspondent of «Rilindja Demokratike»

On 20 January 1991, the DP branch in Dibër organized a rally in the town of Peshkopi, attended by around 15,000 people from the town and the villages of Dibër district. The rally was opened by Safet Zhulali, chairman of the Organizing Commission for the Dibër branch. Other members of this Commission also spoke, as did representatives of the district’s intelligentsia and peasantry. Bardhy[l] Reso spoke on behalf of the DP Initiative Commission. During the rally, a group of around 100 people, organized by PPSH leaders in the district, attempted to provoke disturbances, but the police immediately dispersed them. On their return to Tirana, DP representatives paid a condolence visit to the family of Luan Elez Dema from the village of Homes[h], who lost his life in the Bulqizë mine on 14 January 1991. Correspondent of «Rilindja Demokratike»

The first thing one could learn in Sarandë on the evening of January 19 was this: 1,000 young people from the city had crossed the border. The second: a counter-rally had been organized. At 9:00 on January 20

had been organized. At 9:00 on January 20, Central Initiating Commission member Arben Imami and district Initiating Commission member Skënder Bajrami expressed their concerns about the counter-rally to the district police chief and deputy chief. They were assured that all necessary measures had been taken. Supporters of the DP from the city and district describe the measures taken by the instructors of the district PPSH Committee to sabotage the rally. It was the second day that intercity bus routes had not been operating normally; students and workers at the centers had been warned not to attend the rally. The rally began at 11:00. Sarandë’s youth greeted the organizers as they came out and chanted, «Freedom, Democracy», «We want Albania like all of Europe», etc. On behalf of the DP Initiating Commission for the district, Kristaq Zisi and the doctor Skënder Bajrami spoke. Meanwhile, the counter-rally was being organized no more than 20 meters from the entrance to the district Internal Affairs Branch. The police did not intervene at the right moment. At the request of the young Democrats, and following the police’s promise to restore order, the rally resumed. But attacks by several instigated people, some of whom were drunk, did not stop. After a second interruption, Arben Imami, in a speech ... (Continued on page 5)

Adopted by the Political Committee after it discussed the matter at its emergency meeting of January 9, 1991, by 14 votes in favor, none against and two abstentions, and unanimously proposed for inclusion on the agenda of the January 1991 plenary session a - welcoming with feelings of solidarity and joy the recent demonstrations for freedom and political pluralism that have taken place in Albania, mainly with the participation of students and many other citizens, and noting with satisfaction that they have paved the way for the process of democratization of society and Albania itself; b - welcoming with satisfaction and in particular the legalization of the Democratic Party, and expressing the wish that the same should happen for other parties if they are formed; c - expressing the wish that Albania should soon, following its events, become a pluralist society, where political pluralism «is directed toward the human being, fully respecting citizens’ human rights, Albania’s security and cooperation with Europe»; d - emphasizing in particular the need for Europe (whether or not it is part of the European Union) to extend its greatest solidarity to a people often forgotten and left out of view, despite the difficult conditions imposed on them over a long period by the regime in power; e - expressing the wish that freedom and political, social, cultural, religious and linguistic pluralism can develop and take root in Albania by peaceful and democratic means, and that the democratic regime begun in the country will not turn into internal or international tensions that could aggravate the already highly tense situation characterizing the Balkan region; f - expressing the wish that people arrested during the recent demonstrations in several Albanian cities be treated justly if they are in prison, not be subjected to arbitrary proceedings, and not receive sentences harsher than warranted by the charges that can be proven against them; and expressing the wish that full light be shed and truthful information provided about people who may have been killed or wounded in those same circumstances; 1 - reaffirms its support for the process of genuine democratization of social life in Albania, with the objective of ensuring that this country too recognizes and concretely implements the principles of the final Helsinki Act and the Final Declaration of the Paris session (November 1990), as well as the development of rights and a pluralist democracy, in which those detained are treated justly if they are in prison, are not subjected to arbitrary proceedings, and do can be proven against them; it also expresses in those same circumstances; 2 - calls on the governments of the states participating in the CSCE (and in particular the governments of the member states of the European Union) to respond positively to Albania’s request to participate in the CSCE with full rights; 3 - calls on the Council and the Executive Commission to establish reciprocal relations between Albania and the European Union, and expresses the wish for a serious mutual effort to develop fruitful political, cultural, economic, trade, scientific and technical relations; it suggests that the possibility of an economic and trade cooperation agreement be studied as soon as the necessary political guarantees have been verified; 4 - calls on the Twelve to consider humanitarian aid for Albania—if the Albanian side expresses a wish for it—in view of the very grave economic situation facing the people of that country; 5 - expresses the wish that normal diplomatic relations be established between Albania and all the member states of the European Union; 6 - notes that cooperation on Mediterranean security and environmental cooperation provide a particularly important framework in the Mediterranean for the development of good relations; 7 - welcomes the prospect of constitutional reform announced in Albania and expresses the wish that human rights in particular (including freedom to leave and enter the country, freedom of religion, political pluralism and information, as well as respect for minorities) be effectively guaranteed and put into practice; for this purpose Albania should seriously consider the possibility of putting in place by means of ma- (Continued on page 6)

expressed the view that these things are unacceptable, indeed shameful. The representatives of the DP asked that material conditions be provided for carrying out their activities. the Council of Ministers had ordered that the DP branches in the districts be equipped with suitable premises, vehicles, telephones, typewriters, and stationery, and that all normal conditions be created for them by the executive committees of the district people’s councils. Correspondent of «Rilindja Demokratike» Statement of the Initiating Commission The Initiating Commission of the Democratic Party welcomes and greets the resolution of the Political Committee of the European Parliament and considers it a show of support for pluralist democracy in Albania. The Initiating Commission considers that Albania’s presence in the CSCE as a full member, the establishment and development of relations between Albania and the European Twelve in the political, economic, cultural, scientific, etc. fields, and the establishment and normal development of diplomatic relations between Albania and all member states of the European Union constitute support for Albania’s democratic forces and for the establishment of full democracy in Albania. The Initiating Commission emphasizes that, given the grave economic situation, Albania must urgently seek and accept humanitarian aid from the Common Market. The Democratic Party is committed to ensuring that this aid reaches the families and social groups most affected. The Initiating Commission hopes that will be accepted by all interested parties.

The newspaper «Rilindja Demokratike», organ of the Democratic Party of Albania, is published twice a week. This newspaper is sent abroad by annual subscription for 100 dollars. We accept contributions to improve the printing of the newspaper. Make the check payable to: Gazeta «Rilindja Demokratike» and send the subscription to this address: Rruga «Ashok Vokshi» No. 49, Tirana, Albania. The Democratic Party thanks you.