- Meanwhile, it asks for votes - VLORE: Hungry people without bread and thirsting for justice, full of distrust about the future, set out to sail using any means available. Formal efforts are made to stop them, and there on the shore guns are pointed into the air. The ships and boats are left alone. That day, Bardhi Xhelili is shot from the shore while aboard a ship. The Xhelili family in Vlore, respected as a patriotic family with two martyrs, Sulejman and Ahmet Xhelilin, and members of the Party of Labour—the father of Bardhi Xhelili was a partisan courier during the National Liberation War—receives this condolence letter from his son’s companions, listed below: Fadil! I hope and wish that you are well. I am sending you this letter concerning Agron Xhelilli. Agron, we set out from Skela by force on the ship «Kanina», as you are also aware. We had no trouble as far as Sazan; after we passed Sazan, until we reached neutral waters, we were barbarically fired upon for about 3 hours by 3 torpedo boats. During this time we lost our very best and unforgettable friend, and you lost your dearest brother, Bardhi, who was shot in the heart at the helm by a 12.7 machine gun. We share in your family’s sorrow: Roland Metaj, Vladimir Varfi, Artur Rama, Artan Cuni, Edmond Pashaj, Artur Caci, Gëzim Xhaferri, Fatos Alushi, Namik Mema, Gjergji Dogana, Bardhosh Abedini, Luan Ili-azi, Meto Delaj, Genci Harizaj, Nuri Veshaj, Dashamir A-menhti, Fatmir Amenhti, Krenar Abazi, Theodhor Damo, Arten Rama, Blendi Cano, Artur Toci, Pajtim Feimi, Bardhyl Rama, Myfyt Ajrullai, Beqo Begaj, Agron Myftari, Myfyt Myftari, Petrit Hyseni, (Continued on page 2)

CANDIDATES’ MEETINGS WITH VOTERS CONTINUE Only four days separate us from March 31. There are very few, and yet they seem many to us, so impatient are we to find ourselves as soon as possible before the ballot boxes. They seem many also because we have pinned so many hopes on this day, because, by achieving the great victory of true democracy, we want to accomplish as much good and important work as possible that we did not achieve in 46 years. • • • Extremely enthusiastic, inspiring and meaningful was the meeting held on Sunday at 11 o’clock at the «Partizani» general secondary school in the capital, where parliamentary candidate Frano Krroqi met with his voters in electoral zone 218. The word «meeting» is far too formal, considering that throughout the event an exuberant atmosphere of popular joy prevailed. How different it was from the reception given just a few days earlier to the PPSH parliamentary candidate, Ramiz Alia. • • • On the 24th and 25th, residents of neighborhoods 44 and 43 in Tirana electoral zone 217 met with the Democratic Party parliamentary candidate, Mr. Genc Ruli, in the hall of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, which was more packed than ever. In his remarks, he gave an objective and concrete analysis of the history of this half-century. In particular, he expressed the respect felt in the heart of every Democrat for our people’s liberation struggle and for the sons who fell in that struggle. At the end, the candidate also went on to explain the current political situation— (Continued on page 2)

- Interview with Dr. Sali Berisha by our editor - Question: What was your visit to the USA about? Answer: I think that the invitation and our presence at the ceremony marking the signing of diplomatic relations between Albania and the USA were entirely appropriate and expressed the great esteem the USA has for democratic developments in Albania and for the PD as a protagonist and the principal force of the democratic opposition in Albania. Question: What role did the PD play in establishing relations with the USA? Answer: I think that in this case it should be emphasized that the «golden rule» of Albanian foreign policy for more than 40-odd years was self-isolation. Although it was declared that we had diplomatic relations with 100-odd states, the overall scope of these relations was entirely insignificant. Regarding the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between Albania and the USA, I must emphasize two important points: the USA was the only world power that defended Albania’s integrity and the Albanian cause during President Willson’s time. Relations with Albania were severed after Italy’s occupation of Albania and the latter’s fall under the crown of Viktor Emanuel. For purely ideological reasons, the Albanian leadership ignored these historical facts and, toward the United States and the great allies of the anti-fascist coalition, used the language dictated by Moscow and later Beijing. We cannot say that they did this unintentionally, or merely at the command of their «big brothers». No, they did it because, without the presence of the Americans, they felt much more at ease. This has been the rea- (Continued on page 6)

In response to populist lies We made inquiries among our compatriots in the USA, who organized the magnificent meetings in honor of Dr. Sali Berisha and Dr. Gramoz Pashko, and they told us that no organization called the Community of Albanians of America exists there. They believe that the notorious telegram against Gramoz Pashko and the PD, published with such fanfare by ZP, was produced by sellers of Enver Hoxha’s works, the UDB agents Qazim Krasniqi and Dedë Elezaj; you can find the latter drinking coffee paid for by the PPSH at Hotel Dajti. (Read the next issue of RD)

. At a meeting with voters on March 25, Mr. Fatos Nano claimed that German Foreign Minister H. D. Gensher had declared that, in electoral zone no. 209 of Tirana: «Albania will advance and build socialism with its own forces and never, ever (note how categorical Comrade Enver is, leaving no room for ambiguity—our note) will it hold out its hand to Soviet socialists, American imperialism, or any other capitalist or revisionist state». «We do not have, and will not have (Comrade Enver does not consider it necessary to say for how long—our note), diplomatic relations with the American imperialists, with the Soviet socialists...» «In today’s battle, big capital... has created and nourishes the view that no state in the world can develop without taking out loans. The bourgeoisie and revisionism call the correct action of one who does not take loans to build their own country, as Albania does, outdated and divorced from reality»... «Socialist Albania has practiced and will continue to practice trade with various countries without taking any loans from abroad». «Only people with no sense in their heads could fall for the intrigues of the Chinese leadership and thereby cause catastrophe». «Our industry is modern...» (Continued on page 6)

At a meeting with voters on March 25, Mr. Fatos Nano stated that German Foreign Minister H. D. Genscher had declared that if the PPSH won 75 percent of the vote, Germany would help Albania. Nano stated that German Foreign Minister H. D. Genscher had declared that if the PPSH won 75 percent of the vote, Germany would help Albania. As we were informed by the German Embassy in Tirana, no one at the German Foreign Ministry has made such a statement. RD correspondent

The strongest impression one gets from reading «Zërin e Popullit» after the arrival of pluralism is that the authors of its articles are generally extremely desperate. And their desperation is understandable, since it has completely numbed their logic: if pluralism is a gift their party gave the people, as they themselves loudly proclaim, then they had all the more reason to feel more powerful than ever—in other words, more optimistic than ever. This impression of their uniform desperation is reinforced when one sees that they have latched onto RD as if it were a lifeboat. The two issues of this newspaper have been reproduced almost throughout the week in the pages of «Zëri i Popullit». It would be difficult to find, not only in the history of the Albanian press but even in the history of the world press, another case of a newspaper securing its own existence, let alone its glory, by reviewing another contemporary newspaper, in every possible way. The most charitable thought one can have in the face of this sad fact is that this newspaper, «ZP», having—as always—placed itself at the choice of the party to which it belongs, can do nothing else but avoid analyzing and judging the people’s painful tragedy. This thought is further reinforced when one sees that the writers for «Zëri i Popullit», who apparently have nothing better to do, are in fact despairing at the truth. Instead of engaging in polemics, which would be appropriate and acceptable, they zealously set about rummaging through the lives of the authors published in RD, like fanatics. Thus, through «Zëri i Popullit», our public has had the opportunity to learn important details about many of the most active names in our journalism of this period—for example, where they drink coffee, whom they like to associate with, what biographies their grandparents had fifty years ago and earlier, where and how they had their children treated, and so on. Not to say that these pen-pushers have themselves become surveillants of their «characters», which would be a double disgrace for them; it must at least be said that they have excellent connections with the relevant bodies that monitor citizens’ private lives. But it seems that even this was not enough to vent the desperation of these people. So thoroughly were they swept up in the zeal of submissive scribes that they often cross every boundary of elementary good manners. When it is not enough for them to search through La Fontaine’s pages for some «apt» expression with which to destroy their prey through style as well, they call upon the language of the street. One of this newspaper’s «comrades» gave the ugliest example of professional immorality just a few days ago, publicly addressing a colleague of his from «Republika» as a dog: «If he barks three times, ham-ham...» he wrote. Nevertheless, as always happens with these types, they have not only a comic side but also a tragic one, which they reveal precisely when they want to appear like madmen. By chance, the mass of such articles that we have been reading almost daily in «Zëri i Popullit» during this period are signed with initials or some generic pseudonyms. Never before has our press had so many pseudonyms. Unrecognizable behind their own names and faces, these discredited pen-pushers resemble a troupe of masked actors in a puppet theater who, hidden behind the curtain, expend the last of their strength thinning or deepening their voices to suit the caricatured character they portray. BESNIK MUSTAFAJ

For years, ZP has written the kindest things about the figure of Dr. Rushen Golemi. Now this newspaper is making the most vile slanders about her. All her colleagues at the clinic, where she is the director, and all those who attended the meeting with the parliamentary candidates are deeply indignant about this slander. At none of the meetings was the discreditable figure of Leka Zogu mentioned. Nor was any question asked about him. The writer, Donika Dalani, is either being manipulated by people who are working behind her, or this name does not exist and was invented by ZP, which is in great need of votes on this day. If Donika Dalani exists, let her have the courage to come to the clinic and say these «statements» to us; otherwise, these fabrications will be cleared up in court. Dr. GAZMEND VELÇANI, Dr. RAMAZAN XHAJA, Dr. ARTAN XHAHIA, Dr. GENC BASHA, Dr. LULJETA ÇAKARRI, Dr. LULJETA PAPA, Dr. BUJAR PERNASKA, etc.

These days, the organizing group for the creation of the Social Democratic Party of Albania (PSDSH) submitted an application to the Ministry of Justice to legalize the formation of the Party. The PSDSH is being created in response to the need for an alternative under the conditions of current pluralist developments in our country and Albania’s participation in today’s processes of security, cooperation, and integration in Europe. Putting above all else the interests of our people and homeland, freedom, independence and national sovereignty, and the progress of the country, the PSDSH aspires to build a social order on the European model. ORGANIZING GROUP

(When it calls every day: «Let us forget the past») On Sunday, «Z.P.», contrary to its own European-minded aversion to artistic creativity, published a cycle of poems. According to the logic of «Z.P.», the publication was supposed to expose the authors of those poems, who supposedly wrote about communism, Marx, and the Party of Labour 16 years ago. According to the logic of «Z.P.», readers, by reading the poems, would understand the authors’ hypocrisy. From my first volume of poetry, published in 1975 under the title «Shokët e mi...» (“My Friends...”), some lines were taken, without giving the title of the book they came from, the year of publication, or the acknowledgement required of every serious publisher when a work is published with the author’s permission and consent. All of these are matters of professional and moral ethics, two qualities that, unfortunately, «Z.P.» has never possessed. What drives the editors of «Z.P.» to reflect on books (a word they do not have), and all the more so on certain books published 16 years ago, at a time when their message is: Forget the past? And should the authors themselves be ashamed of the verses that «Z.P.» published so carefully on Sunday? Let readers allow me to recall that when my first volume of poetry, «Shokët e mi», was published, «Z.P.» also extracted some lines, possessed. In the newspaper «Zëri i Rinisë», the current head of today’s interviewers, officer Hysni Milloshi, who is a favorite of «Z.P.» (not to mention the other hereditary leaders), had written a harsh article, in the form of decibels, that was nearly a full newspaper page long. The article was passed up the chain, and measures were taken against the author of the poems below. Now, suddenly, after 16 years, I am mocked by the same recent interviewers for the opposite reason: supposedly I was too devoted to the revolution. When Albanian authors (on this side of the border) published volumes of poetry, they were obliged to include a poem about the Party or the revolution; otherwise, the book would not be published, or ... [continues] Internally. I know this better than anyone, as does the then director of N. Botuese, Thanas Leci. A poem about the Party or the revolution was the conversation authors offered the waiter so that he would serve them. Anyone with even a little sense understood why political poems—and poems dedicated to the Party—were included, just as in the Ottoman Empire one had to begin with a hymn to the sultan. The authors themselves made fun of their poems about the Party, because they were outside true creative work, because they were the tax one had to pay to get published. Should the authors be ashamed of this? I think the totalitarian state enlisted the author in a terrifying way, demanding the monstrosity it required of human life, as well as of artistic writing. World literature has dealt with this subject for a long time... the book by Mikhail Bulgako- (Continued on page 5)

Since the newspaper «Zëri i Popullit» has also made room in its pages for the creative work and deputies of the PD, which shows respect for them, we are obliged to repay the favor with helpful material for the deputies of the Party of Labour, featuring quotations from the great leader of the Party of Labour ambiguity—our note): «[He] will not hold out a hand to Soviet socialism, not worry—cannot borrow without taking out a loan. countries»