We, the intellectuals of Shkodër, unaffiliated with political parties, even though [the text reads “mejrimi”] has taken root in every cell of our lives, believe that spring and the day of our liberation, both spiritual and economic, are knocking at our door. We address the nationwide electorate: let us lift Albania out of the mud and make her a beautiful lady of Europe. This is in our own hands, through our vote on 22 March. This will be the most momentous day in the history of our nation, when we will bury once and for all the communist dragon in Albania. In the service of this goal—the expulsion and final burial of the communist regime—the intellectual forces of town and countryside have joined us, beginning with the clergy: Hafiz Sulejman Kraja, Don Simon Jubani, Imam Vehbi Dani; the honored translator who made Homer speak Albanian, Gjon Shllaku; the scientist Fehmi Gokaj; the nightingale of Shkodër, the 4,000-year-old Bik Ndoja; the artists Lec Bushati and Beb Shiroka; the talented doctors Ferit Hoti and Qamuran Kaduku; the engineers Sandër Mazi and Dul Hysa; the educator Islam Dizdari; and the unforgettable and talented master of sport, Re-nato Radoja, and many, many others. It is time to wake up and, with our votes, show the world that our people want and fight for FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY. We call on our esteemed colleagues in all districts to support our appeal to the nationwide electorate. May the coming day be bright!... Signed by 1070 (one thousand and 70) Shkodër intellectuals unaffiliated with political parties. Shkodër, 29.2.1992

In the electoral ring THE PS SHOWS ITS FIST —The psychology of totalitarian power. An ultimatum that recalls 1933 in Germany. Mr. Nano, the oracle of the hurricane that destroys everything— Social-totalitarianism is trying to adorn with an olive branch the banner of the most savage piracy which, for nearly fifty years, robbed, killed and butchered on our land as if on an ownerless ocean. At its core, it remains aggressive, brutal, merciless, and ready to commit any crime for the sake of power, privileges and their perpetuation. In the newspaper «Zëri i popullit», in an editorial in the form of a communiqué entitled «Why We Will Win», among other things this argument is made: «...they once again place democracy above the law, their party above the state mechanisms and institutions elected—even by them—to protect and act according to the law; they ignore them and even publicly threaten them. The recent protest by the Socialist Party addressed to the President of the Republic, Ramiz Alia, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Vilson Ahmeti, and the Chairman of the Central Election Commission, Niko Nosi, cannot be assessed otherwise. This kind of protest is couched in threatening words...» ...[text continues in the following article fragment] [fragment beginning mid-word]gessive, one argument for this [unclear] is the fact that our pseudo-socialists, just as when they were communists, know how to strike with a fist... when someone tries to assert themselves. They threaten if cooperation with them is not accepted, if their bloodied hand is not kissed, if anyone seeks to cut off those claws that have usurped, through intrigue, hatred and genocide, the people’s sovereign right to choose their own government as they see fit. Military coups and coups d’état are the most profitable routes to establishing and preserving a totalitarian regime, whether fascist or communist, the latter being equivalent to the former. The social-communists of the PS, it seems, find it difficult to free themselves from the dark psychology of the fist, from the power of the fist to impose submission, dictate and make the law. That is why, even as «initiators of democratic processes» or «true democrats», as they declare themselves at the end of the [unclear], they see salvation in the fist. And they say they belong to the European left and have been renewed! Can anyone name another European left-wing party that defends its desire to come to power, or its hold on power, not by respecting the law and democracy but by threatening with a fist? Surely not! Communism in Albania, as we understand it, neither knew nor respected the law. It itself was the law, it itself was the power. Educated in the same fanaticism, the current leaders of the PP(S), even as they speak in the name of the law and justice for a kind of Socialist party, [text continues] ... Chairman of the Central Election Commission, Niko Nosi. This kind of protest ends with the warning words: «If you are not able to carry out your mission as guarantors of the law and order, the Socialist Party has the strength and is fully determined to ensure that the law is implemented». Which constitution, which law grants a party such a right? Which truly democratic country could tolerate such an act? It is unlikely that the PP(S) will be able to answer these questions. In any case, history cannot fail to remind us that ultimatums of this kind resemble those of the Nazis in Germany in 1933. In this case too, the «answer» is the exercise of unlawful force, the disregard of the rule of law in the name of defending order and law. Historically, this is how the way was opened for the rise to power of totalitarian Nazi-fascist dictatorships. In Albania today, this is how they seek to legitimize socialist-totalitarian dictatorship—that is, a totalitarian regime in socialist clothing, a fascist coup. The greeting recently delivered by Fatos Nano at the Tirana Eurosocialist Forum belongs to the same trend. According to the leader of the PP(S), the democratic opposition party «will end up where it deserves, for terrorizing the people». A hurricane, as we know, is a blind force that destroys and flattens everything. Urging the people to become involved in such a history of slaughter, supposedly in their name, is the Nazi-fascist populism about which the heralds of the neo-communist dictatorship, or pseudo-socialists, make so much noise, while trying to pin it on the DP. Mr. Nano does not [unclear] publicly. The recent protest cannot be assessed otherwise, for example, [unclear] of the PPSH, or further back, of the PKSH. For all of them the law is merely their blind will, their power-retaining ambitions, for which they sacrifice everything—the homeland and the people alike. For their sake they are ready to [unclear] homes and [create?] a social-political hurricane, and thus chaos and anarchy, as they are doing, only to then [unclear] the fist and a return to dictatorship as the only hope of prolonging their existence in power, however briefly. The wretches of the PP(S) forget that democracy has definitively killed fear in Albania and that no force can strike the wings of freedom in the Albanian sky.

HERE IN TURKEY WE EXPECT THE DP TO WIN Messages from Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha’s visit to Turkey— From the 9th to the 11th, at the invitation of Mr. Sulejman Demirel, a DP delegation led by the chairman of this party, Mr. Sali Beri- HERE IN TURKEY WE EXPECT THE DP TO WIN TURKEY WILL STRONGLY SUPPORT A DEMOCRATIC ALBANIA —Messages from Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha’s visit to Turkey— From the 9th to the 11th, at the invitation of Mr. Sulejman Demirel, a DP delegation led by the party’s chairman, Mr. Sali Beri- At the reception were Mr. Xhavit Calhar, Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey, Mr. Mehmet Dylgjer, Deputy Chairman of the «Right Path» party, and Mr. Eton Bulmat, a well-known politician and businessman with ... [The supplied text ends here.]

GJIROKASTËR Mr. Gene Ruli held meetings in the villages of Palokastër, Humelicë, K... [?], Mashkullorë, Kodër, Shtëpëzë, Zhulat and Cepunë on 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 March 1992, respectively. He answered the many questions that were of interest and, in particular, discussed the DP’s position on the land law and the assistance that would be provided to the countryside. Question: What is the Democratic Party’s position on the land problem? The main point of the Democratic Party’s program for the countryside is the consistent implementation of the land law, making it a fair law acceptable to everyone. ... [?] ... acceptable to everyone, ... [?] ... The 1946 Agrarian Reform deprived them of the legitimate right to property that they had acquired through their own hard work and inherited from generation to generation. In connection with this problem, the Democratic Party declares that it supports compensation by the state for these farmers. (Continued on page 2)

HERE IN TURKEY WE EXPECT THE DP TO WIN TURKEY WILL STRONGLY SUPPORT A DEMOCRATIC ALBANIA —Messages from Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha’s visit to Turkey— From the 9th to the 11th, at the invitation of Mr. Sulejman Demirel, a DP delegation led by the chairman of this party, Mr. Sali Beri- Mr. Sulejman Demirej, a delegation of the DP led by the party’s chairman, Mr. Sali Berisha, paid a visit to the Republic of Turkey. The delegation included the member of the leadership, Mr. Rexhep Uka, and the member of the National Council, Mr. Tomorr Malisali. The delegation departed on a special plane sent by the Turkish Government for this delegation. At Ankara airport, the delegation was welcomed by the deputy chairman of the «Doriol» Party, the oldest democratic party, founded in 1945, with a longer democratic tradition than all the other parties in Turkey. From the airport, the delegation went directly to the Government headquarters, where it was received by the Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey, Mr. Xhavit Çalar, the Minister of State Omer Baulçuk, the Minister of State Mr. Sherif Ercan, the Minister of State Mehmet Bakall, the Minister of State Ali Shener, the vice-president of Coca-Cola, Ken, the well-known businessman of Albanian origin Mr. Ertur Mat, and other prominent figures from Ankara’s political, cultural, artistic and scientific life. Mr. Çahlar and the other Ministers of State of the Republic of Turkey welcomed Mr. Berisha and expressed their profound respect for the DP and the major role and contribution it has made to democratic developments in the friendly and brotherly country of Albania. They also assured him that the «Doriol» Party and Mr. Demirel closely follow democratic developments in Albania and regard Albania as a true brother country. Likewise, Mr. Çalhar and all the ministers mentioned above hosted a dinner at the «Buju Amkara» hotel ... [?], which took place in a fraternal atmosphere. During his stay in Turkey, Mr. Berisha held a special meeting at the headquarters of the «Right Path» party with its chairman, Mehmet Dylgjer. The talks were open and very cordial. The two parties signed a cooperation protocol, joining forces on the path of democracy. The DP delegation was also received on 11 March at the Turkish Government headquarters by the Prime Minister of Turkey and chairman of the «Doriol» Party, Mr. Demirel. Present businessman of Albanian origin. Mr. Demirel warmly welcomed Mr. Berisha and the DP delegation and said he was very pleased to meet Mr. Berisha and greatly valued the Democratic Party’s role and efforts to establish democracy in Albania. He had also followed the great difficulties this party had faced on this physical path. «Here in Turkey,» Mr. Demirel stressed, «we are expecting the Democratic Party’s victory, and we are convinced that this time the brotherly Albanian people, who have suffered so much and ... [?] ... [?], will vote for democracy.» He stressed that he personally and his party had full confidence that the 22 March elections would give the DP its deserved victory. He also emphasized that Turks and Albanians are two brother peoples, and Albania and Turkey are two brotherly countries bound by many ties over many centuries. «Today,» he stressed, «a strong Albanian community lives in Turkey. As before, this community continues to play a very active role in Turkey’s economic and cultural life. Albanians in Turkey are respected citizens and are established at all levels of the Turkish state. Therefore, there are only feelings of friendship and brotherhood for Albanians in Turkey.» At this meeting, Mr. Berisha stressed that Albania was going through a difficult transition on its path to democracy. These great difficulties, greater than in all the Eastern countries, were connected, first, with the fact that dictatorship in Albania was harsher than in other European countries and, second, with the fact that Albania had been Europe’s most isolated country for 50 years, which meant that specialists were lacking and that a certain inertia also affected Albania’s emergence from its own [unclear]. In this election campaign the PS is using M-L methods and means; through [unclear] and insults, it is seeking to sow hatred among people. Meanwhile, the DP is trying to conduct an honest election campaign based on dialogue and understanding. In addition to the Socialist Party’s fierce M-L propaganda, the political climate is being greatly aggravated by a scheme of thefts and robberies prepared and organized by forces of the old regime. Despite all this, the DP is certain it will win the elections, but the days after the elections will be difficult for it. In Albania, many working-class families send their children to school on empty stomachs. They are waiting and struggling for democracy to win; they have patience and hope in democracy, believing it will improve their situation. The DP has promised and promises voters that after the elections it will establish public order and security, and will also try to secure raw materials so production can begin in profitable enterprises. It will pay great attention to rural development by providing loans, tractors, machinery, seeds, chemical fertilizers, so that Albanian farmers can increase agricultural production, and it will open the way for foreign capital to establish joint ventures. A particular problem for the DP after winning the elections will be the implementation and application of a policy of national reconciliation. All this, Mr. Sali Berisha told Mr. Demirel, can be achieved only if Albania receives assistance from Turkey and other friendly countries. He also stressed at this meeting that during his stay in Turkey, in all his meetings with [unclear] people and politicians at every level, he had observed a strong will and genuine fraternal feelings to help the DP and Albania under democratic opposition government. They also expressed the hope that after the elections these fraternal feelings would take concrete form in strong economic, political and military cooperation between our two countries, which would help overcome Albania’s economic crisis and stabilize the situation in the Balkans. This situation is extremely dangerous for Albanians because Orthodox Communist fundamentalism and the dictator Milosheviç pose a direct threat to the Albanian people in their lands in Yugoslavia. The DP is confident that the Turkish government will provide substantial assistance. (Continued on page 4)

THEY HAVE NOW UNDERSTOOD THAT THEY WILL LOSE THEY ARE LEAVING POWER IN THE MOST SHAMEFUL WAY, LIKE VANDALS THEY ARE BURNING, LOOTING, DESTROYING Brothers and sisters! ▪ THEY HAVE NOW UNDERSTOOD THAT THEY WILL LOSE ▪ THEY ARE LEAVING POWER IN THE MOST SHAMEFUL WAY, LIKE VANDALS ▪ THEY ARE BURNING, LOOTING, DESTROYING Shall we stop their criminal hand?