SALI BERISHA - THE HONOR THAT WILL LEAD ALBANIA TOWARD EUROPE
Speech by the President of the Republic of Albania Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha
Never in our national history have Albanians had in their hands such a great, such a splendid opportunity to build their lives and their future in true freedom and in peace. Through free elections they laid the foundations of freedom and democracy, put an end to the communist dictatorship, killed fear, established human dignity, and chose their government. Dear fellow citizens! I, who yesterday received your trust and the trust of all Albanians for President, feel that the heavy burden of my responsibilities inevitably rises upon my shoulders. But I am convinced that on this difficult road I will not be alone. I will be among you, because I feel stronger and because only that way will I be able to preserve the human dimension. I will be among you, because only by listening to your voice, your troubles, your hopes, your pain and your dreams will I be able to make the right decisions. I will be among you, because our Albania needs a new spirit of citizenship, responsibility and solidarity. We come from a system that impoverished the person, humiliated dignity, closed the country and turned the state against the citizen. Today we must build a state of law, a market economy, an open society and a nation that moves confidently toward Europe. Albania is our common home; it will become strong only when each person feels that they have their place in it, that they are respected, heard and protected by law. In this great endeavor I will be at your service. That is why I want to be among you. I want to know first-hand your joys and sorrows, to be touched by your everyday reality, so that I never lose human sensitivity. Only thus can I preserve the human dimension, and only thus can I serve the Republic with dignity.
[OCR note: the full text of the columns is partially illegible in the image and some segments are missing.]
(Photo: LEKA HOTI)