For several months, the red press, which from time to time takes on rose-colored hues, has insistently repeated that the leaders of the Democratic Party are fighting for an armchair. Their trips around Europe for working meetings are interpreted as “touristic passions.” Meanwhile, the words of democratic leaders in halls or at open-air rallies are translated from Albanian into Punisht, a language which, together with Latin and Ancient Greek, belongs to the group of dead languages. Who are those accusing the opposition leaders of “armchair-ism”? To the astonishment of the whole world, they are spokesmen for a party that, for 47 years in a row, has not moved from its armchair and regards the moment when it will be forced to leave it as a cataclysm. There is no greater irresponsibility than accusing others of wanting to achieve something that you have usurped for half a century and defend tooth and nail, to the point of madness. The phrase “we will not relinquish power (the armchair) without bloodshed” still rings in our ears from the not-so-distant days of February and March this year. Later, when things had calmed down, this scientific formulation was arrived at: “For me to be in the armchair is a serious matter; if you sit in it, the people will hang a tin can around your neck!” So the people were supposed to laugh at the opposition for wanting an armchair. The Socialist Party laughs along with the people. Since 1945, it has been assigned the armchair, and, of course, no one else can sit there; otherwise, there is no democracy. Indeed, not only is it shameful and discrediting to the person who thinks it, and antagonizing to the person who sees it, even to entertain the thought of sitting there. These armchair jests attest to the falsity of the Socialist Party’s “renewal,” which continues to be the victim of a primitive mindset left behind by history. The spokesmen of this party do not understand the essence of democracy. Democratic governance does not mean that one person gets up from an armchair and another sits down in their place. In a pluralist democratic state governed by the rule of law, there are no comfortable armchairs, only temporary chairs, occupied by officials carrying a mountain of responsibility on their shoulders, who are obliged to account for every action they take before parliament. The widely circulated phrase “one group will leave and another will come, it will all be the same” is not only misleading and removed from democratic reality, but also a propaganda tool to disorient ordinary, unperceptive people. Conceiving of a democratic order through the crystallized mindset of a totalitarian regime shows how far the “renewed” Punishts are from what they claim to represent. Vulgar pragmatism, grafting Marxism-Leninism onto Enver Hoxha’s feudalocratic theory, leads them to express utterly naive opinions even about quite straightforward issues. Thus, for example, they see the visits to Europe by young Albanian politicians as “pleasure trips,” since no one can measure another by anything more than their own standards. Our former leaders went to Paris solely for entertainment for two reasons: first, they lacked the capacity to engage in anything more serious, and second, nobody paid them any attention. By taking a whole entourage with them, they unwittingly equate their former expenses with those of today’s leaders. A trip abroad by even the least significant member of the Political Bureau cost more than ten of Mr. Pashko’s trips today, while their effectiveness stands in flagrant contrast: the former, at that expense, tried to heal one of his own pimples, whereas the latter is trying to heal a wound suffered by an entire people... It is being considered. Among other things, the need for such a law also stems from the fact that the constitutional provisions currently in force (Law No. 7491, dated 29.4.1991) lack articles specifically defining the flag, coat of arms and capital of the Republic of Albania—a gap that must be filled as soon as possible. In light of a series of facts resulting from the major changes that have taken place in Albania in recent months, the most important of which is that the Albanian state today is no longer the state of a single political force, and therefore its symbols need not be the symbols of the Albanian state, much less of the nation, a proposal was put forward that the Albanian flag should be that of Gjergj Kastrioti-Skënderbeu, without any sign of political currents, which will always be temporary. Being a symbol that reaches far back in time, it should also be unchanging, because it is linked not to specific ideologies but to the national ideals of the Albanian people. Historical sources tell us that Kastrioti’s flag was a red flag with a black double-headed eagle at its center, while his coat of arms, or shield, was circular (we are in the 15th century), red, and bore the double-headed eagle in the middle. Like any flag, at different times, through ties and friendships with the feudal families of the period, or because of territorial ambitions and claims, that coat of arms or flag may have undergone changes, acquiring royal crowns above the eagles’ heads or the six-pointed star of the communities. Similarly, when the Neapolitans of Alfonso drew the coat of arms, they added other symbols. …to seize power (the armchair) without bloodshed! — these words still ring scientific formulation was arrived at: “It is serious for me to be in the armchair; for you to sit down is ridiculous.” Here we are dealing with unparalleled cynicism. It is like telling someone who wants to try a good alcoholic drink never to put it to their lips. But who says this? A drunkard, drunk and dead drunk! The PK girl, the PP woman and the PS old woman have apparently taken this country’s armchair as their own, and whoever even dares to think of sitting there will be visited by disaster. So democracy and pluralism mean: “I am not to move from the armchair where Enver Hoxha put me, while you are to stay right there and not think about that armchair because…” …those bearing responsibility on their shoulders are required to account for every single action they take in Parliament. The widespread phrase “one lot will leave and another lot will come; it will be all the same” is not only misleading and at odds with democratic reality, but also malicious. The PD is fighting so that “one lot leaves and no other lot comes, because the country’s problems will be judged by many groups at once, according to the positions they hold during a four-year term.” One group, the one that wins the election, will work, set the direction and lead the country’s politics and economy towards a particular objective, while the other group, which remains in opposition, will monitor, make suggestions, correct or oppose the actions of the first, and vice versa. From this perspective, the classic notion of the “armchair” remains only… Then we rightly ask: for whom are politicians precious? The answer is obvious: unquestionably, for those who cannot see the brightest prospect for the future beyond the silhouette of an armchair. They have always rejoiced in their lethargic existence atop the armchair, and now that democracy is lifting them up, armchair and all, to throw them into the abyss, they sometimes curse in anguish, thinking that people want to take their armchair away, and sometimes pray with clouded minds: “Oh God, let it be a dream!” SKENDER SHKUPI

EDITORIAL In view of the absurd situation created following the adoption of the Law on “Constitutional Provisions” (dated 29.4.1991, No. 7491), Article 45 of which repeals the 1976 Constitution, and the legislature’s failure to make any statement regarding the flag, coat of arms and capital of the Republic of Albania, In view of the absurd situation created following the adoption of the Law on “Constitutional Provisions” (dated 29.4.1991, No. 7491), Article 45 of which repeals the 1976 Constitution, and the legislature’s failure to make any statement regarding of Albania, In view of the fact that today’s Albanian state is not the state of a single political force, In view of the fact that the Albanian state should be guided by a national ideology and policy, Considering that official signs and symbols should represent the nation as a whole, and not temporary political currents or viewpoints, We propose the draft law on of Albania. Enclosed, we are sending you a report containing historical considerations, as well as the sketches accompanying the material. Tirana, 5.10.1991 ALEKSANDËR MEKSI ARBEN IMAMI

Democratic Party MPs submitted to the Assembly a constitutional draft law on the flag, coat of arms and capital of the Republic of Albania, which is awaiting consideration. Democratic Party MPs submitted to the Assembly a constitutional draft law on of Albania, which is awaiting consideration. stems from the absence of articles in the constitutional provisions currently in force (Law 7491, dated 29.4.1991) [text cut off at the bottom edge]. The proposed eagle is taken from a seal of Albanian insurgents from the late 16th century, which they authenticated according to the (oral) tradition of the great-grandson of the standard-bearer. The same model of the eagle has been found on the tomb of Skënderbeu’s nephew in Naples. In this way, the [text cut off at the bottom edge] is abandoned, along with the “more or less classical-gigantic depiction of the eagle” dating from the 1940s, in favor of a version from the period when the flag was created, which in our opinion adds value and political support to this flag. As for the coat of arms, it is envisaged as a circular red shield with the black eagle at the center and the inscription “Republic of Albania” above it. It is also proposed that documents display only the eagle, while the seal should have two concentric rings, between which “Republic of Albania” and the name of the institution would be written. The same eagle would appear in the center of the concentric circles. It is proposed that, [unclear in source], it is clear there will be various objections to this proposal; objections that may improve it by providing these nationwide symbols with a sound historical basis. It is for the People’s Assembly, and no one else, to decide in accordance with its rules whether to adopt this constitutional law. Here we also present the proposed model of the eagle. «RD» correspondent

The President of Bulgaria, Zh. Zhelev, received the day before yesterday at his residence in Sofia the chairman of the Democratic Party, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, who was in Bulgaria in his capacity as co-chairman of the group of interparliamentary observers. At the meeting, Dr. Berisha conveyed to President Zhelev his own and the Democratic Party’s congratulations on the historic victory of the Bulgarian opposition and on the major role President Zhelev had played in democratic developments in Bulgaria. The meeting also addressed the great importance of the changes from communism taking place in both our countries and the establishment of democracy. They expressed their desire and readiness for cooperation between the democratic forces of the two countries, and discussed the political and economic situation in Albania, Bulgaria and the Balkan region. «RD» correspondent

Yesterday afternoon, at 5 p.m., Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha received at the Democratic Party headquarters a delegation from the US Republican Institute, Mr. Zhek Bignër and his wife. In an open and cordial conversation, the situation on both sides during this period of democratic change in Albania, Albania’s admission into Eastern Europe, and other matters were raised and discussed. Those present at the meeting included Mr. Azem Hajdari, deputy chairman of the Democratic Party Steering Committee; Merita Zaloshnja, a member of this committee; Margrita Çirko, a member of the Democratic Party National Council; and Skënder Shkupi, secretary of the editorial board of the newspaper “Rilindja Demokratike.” «RD» correspondent.

Pursuant to Article 16 of Law 7491, dated 29.4.1991, on “Constitutional Provisions,” and upon the proposal of the group of Democratic Party MPs, the People’s Assembly of the Republic of Albania HAS DECIDED ARTICLE 1 The state flag of the Republic of Albania shall consist of a red field with a black double-headed eagle in the middle. The ratio of the flag’s length to its width shall be one to one point four. ARTICLE 2 The coat of arms of the Republic of Albania shall depict a black double-headed eagle on a circular red shield, bearing the words “Republic of Albania” in black letters. ARTICLE 3 The capital of the Republic of Albania is Tirana. ARTICLE 4 This law shall enter into force immediately.

The Democratic Party, continuing its civic political action to eradicate communism in Albania and to fully achieve the demands set out in the joint declaration of the Democratic Party, the Republican Party and the Social Democratic Party, strongly supports the declaration of the Independent Trade Union of RTSH calling for the removal of its directors Fatmir Kumbaro, Hysni Lita and Thimi Nika; the renewal of the other managers; the restructuring of RTV on the basis of a clear platform; and the protection of the professional interests of the employees of this institution. The Democratic Party demands that RTV be transformed into a powerful cultural, artistic and informational medium that will defend the national interest and ensure that the country’s democratization is accelerated, that the public receives truthful and accurate information, and that the medium operates free from any ideological or party influence, and from any pressure or censorship inherited from the communist dictatorial regime. For the Democratic Party Deputy Chairman Azem Hajdari

As has been announced by the public information agencies, for several days a service has been operating through two telephone numbers in Durrës and Vlorë, made available by the Italian Aid Distribution Centre. Since this was an initiative undertaken by the Italian side without the knowledge of the General Directorate, PTT reserves only the right to make the following clarification: After learning of the fait accompli, this Directorate arranged a television announcement and audio announcement, and experimentally tested the technical possibility of not charging calls to the two automatic numbers in Durrës through which the Italian Aid Distribution Centre makes international connections. Following these tests, we can declare that calls made to Italy through these numbers will not be charged, not even for the connection as far as Durrës. In other words, international calls will be entirely free. For calls made through the operators, the connection can be made via the switchboard operators, who have been instructed not to charge for these calls. At the same time, we are obliged to point out that, because demand is exceptionally high, the traffic cannot be handled using only the two lines generously made available by the Italian side. Therefore, it is possible that the numbers in question will often be busy, preventing all requests for these telephone connections from being met. General Directorate of PTT Tirana, 14.10.1991

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports approved and handed the relevant Decision to the Founding Commission for the establishment of BSHPSh (Union of Independent Writers of Albania). This will be a free, independent and democratic organization of writers, created in the new climate of democracy and pluralism, and distanced from the monist spirit and practices of the former League of Writers and Artists. As announced, it accepts the voluntary membership of Albanian creators who agree with its program and statute. THE FOUNDING COMMISSION