The PS judged by the numbers - The closer election day gets, the more the PS leaders and the journalists of «ZP» beat their drums. Slogans. Statements. Demagoguery. Above all, one claim stands out: the Socialist Party is the largest party. But what do the statistics show? After reading the article below, one reaches the conclusion: «Gentlemen, lie—but don’t overdo it!» It is well known that the PP, and with it the PS, have been abandoned by 20 of Albania’s best-known doctors at the hospital complexes in Tirana. At the Higher Institute of Physical Culture «Vojo Kushi», of the 20 PP (S) members, around 3–4 remain. Meanwhile, the PD has around 40 members. At the Hydrogeological Enterprise, of around 14 members, 8 PS members are now recorded, compared with 49 for the PD. At the Tirana Geological Enterprise, of the 70 PP(S) members, around 50 are now counted, and the further exodus continues, accompanied even by demonstrative burning of PS membership cards... Here the PD has 70 members. In the countryside, where the PS claims to have its base, the exodus is even more spectacular. In the village of Bërryl, of around 27 PP(S) members, 13 remain. Of these, 2–3 have PS membership cards, while the others will not represent the PS and will vote for the PD. The PD has 86 members here. In Mazrek, of the 18 PP(S) members, the records now show around 12, while most of them are opposing membership in the PS and leaving every day. The PD has 30 members here. (To be continued on page 2)

A Pyrrhic victory The PS’s victory in the election should mean, first, winning a majority of seats in the next parliament and, second, forming a genuinely socialist government, since the opposition parties have declared that they will not form an alliance with the PS. Let us begin with the second point. The question is simple. Is the Socialist Party capable of forming a government that would enjoy the confidence of the people, as well as that of America and Europe, and take Albania out of its wretched economic state? In other words, should the Socialist Party win the election? A clear-headed person says: No, because the Socialist Party is... the worthy political and moral heir to the PP, the party that inflicted immeasurable economic and political damage on Albania. No, because the experience of the communist government NANO No. 1 and NANO No. 2 is far too bitter for the people to trust a socialist government NANO No. 3. No, because this is also the wish of the wretched refugee right-wingers, who, with tears in their eyes and trembling voices, are asking to vote for democracy too. No, because this is also the dying wish of the martyrs of democracy: Arben Broci and his comrades, who gave their lives to prevent the red plague from inflicting new suffering on the Albanian people. No, because the confidence—and therefore the assistance—that a socialist government might receive from Europe and America was made clear by F. Nano’s fruitless visits in May 1991, and even more so today, when that confidence does not exist. It is enough to recall the statements of senior Italian, German, French, etc. government officials, and most recently the words of the American ambassador. All of this leads to the conclusion that the socialists cannot win a majority of seats in the next parliament. This becomes all the more plausible when one remembers that on 31 March, despite the organized state terror in the cities and especially in the villages, the PP barely managed to secure only 66 percent of the votes. In these circumstances, the question arises: What does the Socialist Party mean by victory in the election, when it certainly and the opposition is a single bloc? The PS does not consider winning a majority of the votes to be an electoral victory, but something else—specifically, winning more than 1/3 of them. In the case of more than 1/3, the PS’s arithmetic is simple: to promote the victory in the election with all its might, a victory it knows it has not achieved, so as to win at least 1/3 of the votes and give itself the opportunity to participate in the country’s political government. Why does the PS seek a moral victory in this way, like Pyrrhus! PETRQA SHQOMO

Opinions There is no paragraph or page in «ZP» that does not talk about the great economic aid the world will give Albania if the PS wins the election. The party chairman, Mr. Fatos Nano, writes and speaks about aid. Mr. Servet Pëllumbi «Ison» also talks about aid. Aid is also at the centre of discussions when Messrs. Ruçi, Dede, Dokle, Dobrovoda, etc. meet with the electorate. And they are entitled to speak this way. We are in an election campaign... After the elections, the tune changes. If the world does not provide aid, that will not be the PS’s fault. It has done its part: it has campaigned for aid. For example, no one from its ranks accepts responsibility. Paper, equipment, typewriters, computers, etc. are planned for there. So far, 20 tonnes of paper have arrived. Another 100 tonnes are expected to arrive in the coming days. The only daily newspaper, the PS organ «Zëri i popullit», has been excluded from this programme. Why? The leaders of «ZP» know better than anyone. The United States of America, through its embassy, has a major programme to help the Albanian press develop. Work on building a printing house is expected to begin soon. Computers, photographic laboratories, tape recorders and other equipment have been distributed. These days the embassy ...tor to Messrs. Ruçi, Dede, Dokle, Dobrovolca, etc. And they have the right to speak in elections the tune will change[?]. If the world does not help, that is not campaigned for aid. For example, no one from the ranks of the PP, and later the PS, raised any accusation against Mr. Fatos Nano, who, while prime minister, went to London and came back empty-handed. What is surprising, though, is that «ZP» journalists also talk about aid from the world. This is happening precisely at a time when this newspaper, the PS’s organ, has been excluded from international aid in the field of journalism. Let us judge by the facts. A few weeks ago, an American foundation drew up an aid program for the Albanian press. The oldest newspaper has also been left out of this program: the organ of the Communist Party during the war years, the organ of the Party of Labour during the years of building socialism, and the organ of the Socialist Party in these days of building capitalist society—the newspaper “Zëri i popullit”. THE OBSERVER

On Monday, a delegation of the British Conservative Party, headed by Mr. Xhefri Pati, Deputy Chairman of the party and a member of the British Parliament, arrived at Rinas airport. The delegation was received at the airport by the chairman of the Democratic Party of Albania, Mr. Sali Berisha, and the party’s secretary, Mr. Eduard Selami. They held a meeting at the PD headquarters. In his remarks, Mr. Sali Berisha thanked Mr. Xhefri Pati for the support that the Conservative Party and the British Parliament have (Continued on page 4) his statements. Among his most important works is «On the complex choice of building socialism, secretly asleep in the PRSH» (co-authored), and his other thesis, «Problems in improving planning in agriculture», which truly characterize docent Pati. This is precisely the scientist whom the P(P)S still needs, so that, in the guise of an uncommitted person, he can quietly move from one Albanian government to another and, in his role as deputy prime minister, sign whatever his masters want. One such matter is the distribution of PP property. Decision 402 dated 1. 11. 91, «On the distribution of the main assets that were in use by the PPSH», stipulated that the committees of the PS in the dis-

- The deputy prime minister signs and stamps whatever his masters want - They say Zydhi is a communist-socialist with no blemishes on his record. Others describe him as an uncommitted intellectual and a talent, even glorifying him as the leading figure in the foundation for agricultural economic sciences. But, in the end, a person’s deeds speak for themselves. Two of his most important works, «On the complex solution to building socialism in the countryside in the PRSH» (co-authored) and «Other theses and his dissertation, ‘Problems in improving planning in agriculture’», truly characterize this docent of the faculty at the University of Tirana. ...and to provide 10 offices, 2 vehicles, a plenary hall with all the other equipment, all of it free of charge. Two weeks had not passed when, by letter 2625 dated 13.11.91, signed by Mr. Pepa, the PS committees were granted up to 5 offices and one vehicle. A month went by, the Stability Government fell, and Zydhi, once again as deputy prime minister in the technical government, signed another letter, no. 2691 dated 30.12.91, ordering that the PS committees be given 10 offices, two vehicles and a meeting hall. One is struck by the metamorphosis—the power metamorphosis—of this cardless communist, who privileges the PS and discriminates against all the other political forces. In his latest article, Mr. Zhy[d]iu says the decision was made in consultation with the pluralist committees of the districts. We want to know which district pluralist committee approved this. Do you perhaps identify the workerist chairmen of these committees with the committees themselves? JEMIN GJANA, secretary of the PD branch, Pogradec

AGITATION AND PROPAGANDA - The ambassador of the Czech and Slovak Republic intervenes! - After showing Gafri his place and drawing the line at the ash tree for the US ambassador in Tirana—and indeed for the entire American embassy—and after warning Andreotti to watch himself and not meddle in our country’s internal affairs, the leaders of the SP did not sleep on in complacent self-satisfaction. They immediately showed that they are always vigilant and that the enemy has it hard, because, just as it was not easy for him to act in the time of the late Enver Hoxha, he will never find it easy to act against socialism in Albania. This time the Czech and Slovak Republic’s ambassador has been targeted, or, as “Zëri i popullit” puts it for short, demonstrating a lack of political, geographical and linguistic knowledge, the ambassador of “Czecho-Slovakia.” Regarding the SP’s shift, “Zëri i popullit” writes that, to reach the decision by the three main parties of the democratic opposition to put forward joint candidates in some areas in the coming elections, «perhaps instructions from foreign friends were also needed. A few days ago,» continues «ZP», «the ambassador of Czecho-Slovakia asked the leader of the DP—what are you doing about a coalition with the other parties?» Thus, after a very simple question, our social-communists are able to conclude that there must have been an instruction! Poor things! They have never been used to walking on their own feet, judging with their own minds, or making decisions according to their own convictions. B. T.

On February 27 at 10 o’clock, a meeting of the National Council of the Democratic Party will be held. The DP Presidency Today at 12:00, a festive rally will be held at «Qemal Stafa» Stadium to mark the opening of the election campaign. DP leaders and many distinguished artists and comedians will take part. The Democratic Party, Tirana Branch

(Interview with the writer Ismail Kadare, given to journalists Mitro Çela and Filip Çakuli during a friendly meeting in Paris) -The opposition, led above all by the Democratic Party, is the only force to which the future belongs. -It is Albania’s only hope. The only solution and the only chance. -I believe everyone will understand this. QUESTION: As a writer, you are spiritually connected to your Homeland, as your work also bears witness. Now that you are far from Albania, how do you maintain your ties with it? ANSWER: There are many ways to maintain ties with your country. Some are visible and some are not. The visible ties are letters, telephone calls, meetings, interviews. The other tie, the invisible one, is on another level, I would say a superior one. It is realized even when letters and telephone calls are absent. In my case, this connection remains literature. QUESTION: Let us ask the first question, since the claim that Kadare has abandoned Albania has been heard both inside and outside our country. As a continuation of that question, could you tell us something about your activities in the national interest? ANSWER: I do not wish to publicize any effort I have made for Albania. There is no need for that. I do what any normal Albanian would do. Since my opportunities are much greater than those of an ordinary Albanian, what I do is also more important. This is no place for either arrogance or feigned modesty. It is simply the truth. To speak more concretely: besides my work as a writer, which would be enough to let me have a clear conscience that I have done something for my country, I try to do more. Perhaps in the future I will publish my daily notes as well as my correspondence with many prominent figures and heads of state, which will reflect part of my life outside literature. I think that, among other things, Albania needs—and will need—a long history of being known. Recognition is neither a luxury nor glory. Recognition is a vital dimension for our country. Without it, Albania cannot lead a normal life in the family of nations. QUESTION: It is regrettable, but today in Albania there exists a mania that not infrequently turns into collective hysteria, aimed at denigrating and destroying the values that remain to the nation. How do you judge this collective agreement? ...into a collective hysteria to denigrate and destroy judge this collective agreement? ANSWER: The psychosis of destruction shows the weakness of a nation. Let us admit that the Albanian nation today has fallen into a temporary depression. I think it is an illness that is both understandable and transient. Rebirth will follow depression. Collective psychoses have still been little studied, and those of communism even less. There are many factors that fuel them. Democracy is like a strong sun shining on a body unaccustomed to it. Its rays stir up the most unexpected complexes. People who until yesterday seemed normal suddenly find themselves changed. Unknown orchestras, passions and altered resentments emerge. Alongside fanaticism, egoism erupts, as does a frenzied thirst for careers, leadership and fame. For a moment it seems that everyone is grabbing... (Continued on page 4)

The Presidency of the DP and the publishing council of the newspaper «Tribuna Demokratike» clarify that issue 3 of «Tribuna Demokratike» was published without the authorization and oversight of the publishing council. Some of the published materials are outside the DP’s line and were included simply at the wish of the journalist Mujo Bucpapa. He attacked several members of the DP’s governing council from a personal standpoint. The Presidency of the Tirana Branch of the DP and the publishing council of «Tribuna Demokratike» apologize to readers for the quality of this issue! The DP Presidency in Tirana