- The discussion and deputy Sali Berisha in parliament. Mr. Chairman, Madam Deputies, Gentlemen Deputies, We are not sufficiently clear[?] to understand and recognize what is happening to this country in this dramatic period. If we want to heal the deep wounds of this society, we must have the courage to recognize the truth. And the truth is that this country is sliding every day further toward a hopeless condition. Our people are becoming poorer, production is falling, shortages are becoming unbearable, and people’s faith in the future is fading. The Democratic Party has persistently demanded that immediate measures be taken to stop this decline. We have called for genuine political pluralism, a market economy, legal guarantees for human freedoms and rights, the rule of law, and free elections. Without these conditions, every word about European integration is merely a dangerous illusion. It is useless to speak about Europe when the Albanian citizen has no bread, when the countryside has been neglected, when the city faces unemployment and insecurity, when the youth sees no horizon. Democracy cannot be built on fear, on administrative violence, and on the manipulation of institutions. Albania must open itself to the world, but opening cannot be just a slogan. It requires deep reforms, a fundamental change in the political and economic system. This also requires the will for dialogue, tolerance, and national understanding. We cannot accept that our demands be presented as an obstacle. On the contrary, they are the only condition for saving the country from chaos and guiding it toward Europe. Without the fulfillment of PD’s demands, Albania does not move toward Europe, but away from it. (Continues on page 5)

I am not a nationalist, but I am very Albanian An exclusive interview with the successful Kosovar singer Ymer Shaqiri, conducted by Marian Cama, given in My- Question: There has been much discussion in Albania about the success of the Albanian singer Ymer Shaqiri. What is the secret of his success? Answer: The strength of my song is that I sing for ordinary people, for their joys, for their pain, and for the longing for their homeland. I have not followed ready-made formulas. I have sung what I have felt and what I have lived through. Question: You are often called a patriotic singer. How do you receive that description? Answer: I am not a nationalist, but I am very Albanian. I love my country, my language, and our traditions. That does not mean hatred for others; on the contrary, it means respect for oneself. Question: Have you faced difficulties in your artistic path? Answer: Yes, many. It is not easy to rise through work and honesty when conditions are lacking. But the public has always given me the strength to continue. Question: What do you expect from the future? Answer: I expect more freedom for art, more space for Albanian culture, and more opportunities for our youth. (Continues on page 5)

Comment of the day In Bari, Italy, Mr. Nano “reveals” the secret of the exodus Where does this exaltation of Mr. Fatos Nano come from? Why this insatiable desire to explain to the Italians the reasons for the Albanian exodus? Perhaps because until yesterday he and his party denied these causes, while today they are trying to justify them? Mr. Nano goes to Bari and there “reveals” that Albanians are leaving because of poverty, lack of hope, and the deep crisis. But who brought the country to this state? There is no need for many words. The Albanian people know well that the exodus is the offspring of a failed system, of a power that closed the country’s horizons and impoverished its people. Therefore, Mr. Nano’s statements are neither a revelation nor a deep analysis; they are a belated attempt to wash one’s hands of responsibility. Albanians did not leave because the opposition told them to. They left because they could no longer live as before. If Mr. Nano wants to tell the truth, let him tell the whole truth: the exodus is an indictment of the regime that brought the country to this state. (Continues on page 6)

The request of the PD parliamentary group Today's parliament cannot continue its work as if nothing had happened. Representatives of the Democratic Party demanded that the elementary rules of parliamentary debate be respected and that the opposition not be treated as decoration in a formal process. The PD parliamentary group put forward its request for the postponement of certain procedures and for guarantees of equal conditions in the discussion. Since these requests were not taken into account, our deputies were forced to leave the hall in protest. This act was neither hasty nor demonstrative. It was a political response to a climate that aims to restrict the voice of the opposition and present a false image of normality. The opposition cannot be part of such a game. (Continues on page 2)

The delegation of the Democratic Party of Albania held talks with representatives of the Party for Democratic Prosperity of Macedonia on matters of common national and political interest. At the center of these talks were the rights of Albanians, democratic developments in the region, and the need for closer cooperation between Albanian political forces. The parties emphasized the importance of pluralism, respect for freedoms and human rights, as well as the necessity of peacefully resolving political problems. It was noted that Albanians in Macedonia and in Albania have a common interest in stability, democracy, and understanding. (Continues on page 6)

1. Yesterday, Thursday, date 9.5.1991, the branch of the Democratic Party in Kavaja organized a meeting with citizens. 2. Regarding the hunger strike by members of the PD, with the aim of raising public awareness of the necessity of fulfilling democratic demands, the PD branch of[?] ... 3. Yesterday[?] 11.5.1991 a debate was held with young people on the problems of their organization and participation in political life. (Continues on page 2)