The well-deserved victory of the DP in these elections demonstrates the democratic spirit of our people. The victory will be more complete when the second round of the elections ends on Sunday. Our people will vote consciously for the DP’s victory, because they know they are voting for the future, for a better life. At the ballot box, our people do not think as «ZP» comment, «let’s try this other one for a change»; rather, with all their heart they express their ardent love for democracy. We see this in the enthusiastic meetings of the DP chairman, Mr. Sali Berisha, wherever he has gone. We see it in the rightful joy of the people who celebrate the victory of true democracy, their victory.

We are three million poor people anxiously awaiting the result of a historic verdict: the vote we cast, by an overwhelming majority, for democracy. The burden is heavy. But faith in the future, in this powerful dawn of a new era, is great. And that faith must never be betrayed, under any circumstances. A few days ago, through a private source, we received news that was as shocking as it was disturbing. We are not identifying the source because we have not verified it. The message was more or less as follows: two foreign companies offered their capital and resources for a giant project in Albania. For the same purpose, the same scale, and the same qualitative and functional level of the project, the first asked for 150 million dollars and the second for only 28 million. Surprising in form, though not very surprising in substance, is the fact that the office was inclined to sign a contract with the first company. The agreement has been put on ice. Regardless of whether this report is true or not, I think that at the start of our race toward Europe we must not tie iron balls to our feet with chains. The risk of corruption remains great. What should be done? The solution to the problem in a democratic system is relatively simple: make public the project proposals for works of national scale, the companies offering their assistance, and the cost or credit required to build the work in question, together with the repayment terms. For each project, publish accurate information about what one company or another is offering; only after fully informing public opinion should the specialists decide, and they should explain publicly to the people or their representatives why they chose one option rather than another. This is essential. We must all rise to our feet against corruption. I think it makes no sense to appeal to people to «be honest». Those who hold the fate of the people in their hands, even temporarily, must be absolutely honest. And if someone— SKËNDER SHKUPI (Continued on page 2)

State and political figures sent their best wishes by telegram and telephone for this electoral victory, a success achieved by a Democratic Party in the transition from communist dictatorship to democracy» The American Government wholeheartedly supports efforts toward economic and political reforms. Message from the U.S. Secretary of State to Mr. Sali Berisha. Dear Mr. Chairman! Please accept my warmest congratulations on your successful victory in Albania’s first free and fair parliamentary elections. The credit belongs to you, the government, and above all to the people of Albania, for continuing progress toward a stable democracy despite the difficulties that have accompanied Albania’s transition. The American Government wholeheartedly supports your efforts toward political and economic reforms. Since the first time we met in June 1991, the Albanian people have made promising progress toward establishing a parliamentary republic. Albanians have continued their efforts to prepare the ground for a free and open society and to confront the terrible consequences of nearly 50 years of communism. Democratic institutions will help your people, as they have already done, to develop a free-market economy that will in time bring them prosperity and well-being. The American people join me in wishing you every success in advancing these historic achievements. I hope Albanian-American ties will be further strengthened, as will cooperation toward a world based on democracy and respect for everyone’s rights. Sincerely yours, JAMES BAKER As for the West, this victory of the DP was a great source of joy. He was certain that it was a victory for the whole country and stressed that Albania would have the full support of Germany and Europe. Mr. Berisha thanked Mr. Gensher and informed him about the election results in Albania; Mr. Berisha also wished Germany’s Foreign Minister Gensher a happy birthday and invited him to visit Albania. Mr. Gensher gladly accepted the invitation and expressed his wish to come to Albania very soon, immediately after the formation of the new Government. - Message from the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs - Dear Berisha, I learned with great pleasure of your party’s electoral success, which definitively closes a chapter in Albanian history and ushers in another, full of promise. The success of the Democratic Party will benefit relations between our two countries. You will recall that at our first meeting in Rome, in March 1991, I had the opportunity to express my hope that the elections scheduled for 1991 would open the way to a democratic Government in your country, as a precondition for a qualitative leap in our relations; this will now happen fully and irreversibly. Warm regards, GIANNI DE MICHELIS Dear Berisha! Occupied with the political election campaign, I was unable to do what I wanted—to come to Tirana and congratulate you and the members of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Deputies. For now, I will confine myself to doing so in writing, while remaining ready immediately after the elections of 5 April to get in touch with you and lay the foundations for sincere and strong cooperation. Yours, FLAMINIO PICCOLI Rome: 25.03.1991 We are with you. The Democratic League of Albanians of Croatia, through its delegation in Albania, congratulates the great victory of the Democratic Party and democracy in general in the elections of 22 March and considers it a victory for everyone. Today, the Democratic Party of Albania enjoys particular sympathy not only in Albania but also in Kosovo and everywhere, and represents a guarantee of democratic victories. This party promises a great deal, and precisely for that reason hope is high. We are with you, and we are convinced that you are with us too. Together, we stand for democracy. Together we will overcome every difficulty and preserve our culture and all our treasures, which the barbarian hordes knew only how to trample and plunder, attempting to erase from the face of the earth every trace belonging to the Pelasgians and Illyrians—our ancestors—so that centuries later we Albanians might fan the flame and ashes extinguished under the «care» of pan-Slavic Byzantium. The Democratic Party of Albania lit sparks of hope, as it did then in the second November, when the great Ismail Qemali raised the flag and opened the way for generations to come. Our party (LDSHK) is the first Albanian party in the former Yugoslavia and today numbers around 40,000 members. From the beginning, it has fostered and coordinated the links between Kosovo’s political parties and Europe and the world. It has internationalized the cause of Kosovo and national unification. At the international scientific symposium, it was confirmed that the poisoning of Albanian youth in Kosovo was a criminal act prepared by the occupying Yugoslav army. We also appealed against the inclusion of Albanian soldiers in the war against Slovenia and Croatia, urging them to desert the occupying ranks and also ensuring them shelter. March 22 is a great day for everyone and marks everyone’s victory. Let us celebrate it and congratulate one another on this day! NAIM BILALI Member of the leadership of the Democratic League of Albanians of Croatia Democratic institutions will help your people, just as they have done up to now, to develop a free-market economy which, in time, will bring them prosperity and well-being. The American people, together with me, wish that Sincerely yours, JAMES BAKER - Message from the Prime Minister of Greece addressed to Mr. Sali Berisha, chairman of the Democratic Party of Albania. I was very pleased to learn of your great victory in the March 22 elections, which revived your people’s hopes for a better future. On this occasion, I would like to express my determination to work together with you constructively and effectively, so that we can raise our bilateral relations and cooperation to a higher level, for the benefit not only of our nations but also of our region and Europe as a whole. I hope that in this way the Greek minority in Albania, whose status I am certain will be greatly improved under your leadership, will play a leading role as a bridge of understanding and friendship between our two peoples. On the other hand, I wish to reiterate my country’s readiness to continue helping Albania emerge from its current critical period, both materially and by supporting its efforts to join European institutions. KOSTANDIN MICOTAQIS Prime Minister of Greece - Congratulatory message from German Foreign Minister Hans Ditrich Gensher to the Chairman of the DP. - Dear Mr. Berisha! I am sending you my sincere congratulations on the Democratic Party’s extraordinary success in the March 22, 1992 elections. It is one of the most successful electoral victories ever dictatorship to democracy. Our support for your party provides a solid foundation for accelerating political and economic reforms. Germany will continue its active assistance to Albania so that it can achieve these political and economic reforms. Germany will also insist that the European Community and the Group of 24 support the reform processes. I would greatly appreciate the opportunity, after the formation of the new government, to meet with you and the future Albanian Foreign Minister to learn about his vision of the policy Albania will pursue in the future. Also, in a telephone conversation held this morning, March 25, 1992, German Foreign Minister Hans Ditrich Gensher congratulated Mr. Berisha on his victory and told him that, for himself, for Germany and for

The city of Krujë is unique for its geographical position, its beautiful nature and its history. The citizens of Krujë are inclined toward originality in organizing celebrations and mourning, and in practicing religious rites. It is also unique for its large number of sacred places (there are 365 Bektashi shrines). This year, amid the democratic processes, the sacred place for the city’s residents also became «Skënderbej» Square in front of the monument to the «National Hero». The DP rallies took place here; here the dramatic days and nights of the Krujë residents’ protest against Enver’s activists unfolded, until they held their rally. It was precisely here that hundreds of Krujë residents gathered spontaneously in the early hours of the morning of 23 March. people of Krujë decided to perform the religious rite of burying communism. This is their legitimate right: last year they gave their votes to the Democratic Party candidate for the People’s Assembly, thereby vindicating their beloved slogan, «Heroic Krujë with the Democratic Party». Of their dreams of democracy, only four of the candidates for deputy from the Democratic Party won, leaving the dreams only half fulfilled. This year, the district of Krujë gave the People’s Assembly three Democratic Party deputies (a complete victory). Their dreams came true. On the spot, the large cauldrons in which the halva would be mixed were brought over; sugar, wooden spoons and firewood were found. An open-air kitchen was improvised. Meanwhile, the procession of cars that would make up the «funeral cortege» grew larger and larger. At the funeral ceremony— Mourning usually brings weeping, tears and sorrow, whereas in this case we have a paradox expressing the crowd’s enthusiasm: in the joyful faces, in the drumbeats that gathered people, in the cries of “Long live democracy, down with communism.” On such occasions people say, “May his soul rest in paradise,” but this description contains a paradox: “May you go to eternal hell.” Amid all this enthusiasm, the “funeral procession” set off, led by the black hearse and followed by around fifty other cars. The cars’ horns signaled the departure. The procession set off for Tirana to bring the capital’s people the news that Kruja, the citadel of freedom and democracy, had buried communism. Everything went according to Krujan tradition, marked above all by discipline, order and calm. After the burial, the “funeral procession” arrived in Kruja, while the halva was ready. It was poured into large trays in front of the Skënderbeu monument. The district’s deputy, No. 44, Mr. Sadedin Balla, as he ate the first spoonful of halva, addressed the people: “Communism is in hell. The most precious thing we need at this moment is moderation, so that we do not turn our feelings of joy at our victory into feelings of bitterness toward those who lost the election.” With the words, “May you enjoy democracy,” he once again affirmed the Democratic Party’s motto: “We love you all.” Thus Kruja, distinctive in its suffering, distinctive in the degree of persecution it endured, and distinctive in its dissent against communism, arranged its burial in a distinctive way. SABAH LLUBANI

On the occasion of the victory in the March 22 elections, the Democratic Party and its chairman, Sali Berisha, have received telegrams and messages of congratulations from the «Union for Human Rights» Party, the «Albanian National Unity Party», the Albanian Ecological Party, Vetoni Surroi, chairman of the Parliamentary Party of Kosovo, Riza Halimi, chairman of the Party for Democratic Action in Macedonia, the National Association of Former Political Prisoners and Persecutees of Albania, the Albanian-American Association based in Washington, from its chairman Xhozef Dioguardi, the Albanian Colony of Sofia, the Çamëria Association, the leadership of the Omonia political-social organization, the Steering Committee of the Organization of Retired and Discharged Military Personnel, the Union of Albanian Independent Trade Unions, the United Independent Trade Union of Miners, Geologists and Beneficiators of Albania, the leadership of the Independent Trade Union League of Albania’s municipal system and handicrafts sector, the Confederation of Trade Unions of Albania, the Mother Organization of Emigrants, and from Sheh Murat, chairman of the leadership of Albania’s Havelitt Triculture, the Independent Oil Workers’ Union, and thousands of members and supporters of the DP.

To Mr. Sali Berisha, Chairman of the Democratic Party. Congratulations on the brilliant victory. On this historic day for our dear Albania, I offer you fraternal greetings on your well-deserved victory. You brought democracy to the Albanian people, with the hope that very soon our people will know how to build this democracy and once again demonstrate their vitality and genius. ISMAIL KADARE Paris, 23. 3. 1992 Professor Sali Berisha, Chairman of the Democratic Party. Congratulations and best wishes for complete progressive achievements. NERMIN VLORA FALASCHI AMBASADOR RENZO FALASCHI Mr. Berishal Sincere congratulations on the PD’s tremendous success in the legislative elections. I urge you to continue strengthening the ties between Albania and the European Community. The members of the Group of the European Democratic Union are entirely at your disposal to support your work within the European Parliament. KRISTIAN DE LA MALËNE Chairman of the EDU Group I congratulate you on your triumph. I send you my most heartfelt greetings and congratulations. JASH GAVRONSKI Member of the European Parliament