On 7 September of last year, by free vote, the 111 delegates of the Kosovo Assembly proclaimed the Kaçanik Constitution, which enshrined Kosovo's independence. Not by chance, this courageous and wise act was preceded by the constitutional declaration of 2 July 1990, through which Kosovo was declared an equal unit of the Yugoslav federation. As the newspaper "Bujku" wrote in those days, "Yugoslavia has died in Yugoslavia, and we Albanians, by making Kosovo a republic within the Yugoslav federation, are resolving our status realistically and wisely and are making our life and work free in the family of free peoples of the new Yugoslavia". Serbia and the Serbs were the only ones who did not understand this. On 5 July 1990, the day the Serbian parliament met, the Serbian government suspended the Kosovo Assembly and Executive Council, dissolved the Assembly and the government, suspended the Constitutional Court, took over Pristina Radio-Television and the newspaper "Rilindja" with police forces. From that day on, unprecedented police and military terror began against the Albanians of Kosovo. Under these conditions, the Kosovo Assembly met in Kaçanik and proclaimed the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo. The Albanian nation everywhere in the world welcomed this great historic act. It definitively sealed the will of the Albanian people of Kosovo to live free and independent. One year later, Kosovo is still under a brutal police-military regime, but the resistance of the Albanian population has not been defeated. On the contrary, it has grown stronger and has turned into a broad political and civic movement. The Albanian population of Kosovo has responded to violence with unity, restraint, and determination. The closure of institutions, dismissals from work, arrests, torture, and killings have not been able to extinguish the aspiration for freedom and independence. On the contrary, they have made even clearer the colonialist nature of Belgrade's policy toward Kosovo. Today, after one year, the Kosovo issue has become an international issue. Democratic opinion in Europe and in the world increasingly sees that the only solution is recognition of the will of the Albanian people of Kosovo. This requires continued political and moral support. Albania and all Albanians must support this historic effort with all legitimate means. The Kaçanik Constitution remains a monument to the political courage of Kosovo's elected representatives and proof that freedom is not granted, but won. The people of Kosovo have entered a road with no return.

On 4 September, hundreds of members of the Patriotic Political Association "Kosova" held a protest rally in front of the Yugoslav embassy in Tirana. At this gathering, which lasted more than three hours, slogans were raised and calls were made against Belgrade's repressive policy toward Albanians in Kosovo. The participants condemned the arrests, killings, mass dismissals from work, and the closure of schools and Albanian institutions in Kosovo. They called for intervention by international opinion and European bodies to put an end to Serbian police terror. At the end of the rally, a delegation of protesters delivered a written protest to the embassy. The participants declared that they would continue their activity until the national rights of the Albanians of Kosovo are realized. (Continues on page 6)

From the party conferences in the districts LUSHNJË At the conferences, speaking about the organization and development of the Party Congress, Mr. Bashkim Kopliku called on democrats in the districts to further strengthen their unity and to take an active part in the election of delegates to the National Assembly of the Democratic Party. (Continues on page 6) TEPELENË Months ago, the need to establish new-type cooperatives was raised in the press of the Democratic Party. Sokol Olli and his fellow villagers from Nivica have made efforts to create a free agricultural society. Their initiative shows that the Albanian countryside is seeking new forms of economic organization. (Continues on page 6)

The events of recent days in the Soviet Union have led to major political changes that directly affect all of Eastern Europe. Under these conditions, we believe it is essential for our country to take bold steps to emerge from isolation and integrate into European structures. We ask the People's Assembly, the Presidium and the Government to speed up the adoption of the relevant decisions for Albania's membership in the CSCE, the UN, and other international bodies. We also ask that measures be taken to establish full diplomatic relations with the United States of America and with the countries of the European Community. Albania can no longer remain hostage to an outdated policy. This is a civic and national demand. OFR [?]

On the second day of the hunger strike, intellectuals and citizens of Tirana have addressed an appeal to the President and the Government for a solution to the situation that has arisen. They call for respect for democratic rights and the opening of dialogue with the country's political forces.