On Monday, 15 June 1992, Albanian democracy, through its representative, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, our first anti-communist president in these 50 years, achieved a special and very great success. That day, the first meeting of historic significance for both peoples took place between Presidents Xhorxh Bush and Sali Berisha. For various historical reasons, from 1912 until the time of the Second World War, the heads of our two states had no opportunity to make direct contact through a conversation, whether in Washington or in Tirana. And yet the aid of the USA, this giant state not only in terms of its size and power[?], but also in its level of democracy and scientific, technical and cultural development, was never absent from Albania. Here we recall not only the active protection by the USA against the partition of our country, but also the centers of American-Albanian knowledge and culture, the technical schools of Tirana and the agricultural school of Kavaja. They remained models of the outstanding humanitarian work of Harri Fulci and his American colleagues in Albania, and are therefore remembered with great respect to this day. But after the war, relations with the USA came naturally, because they sprang from honest and sincere hearts, from our desire for democracy and their readiness to save us from the abyss. In these dreams, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha and the Democratic Party also played a special role; they found in the USA, Germany, Italy, Greece, France, England and democratic Europe in general the future support of martyred and devastated Albania. Therefore, with the victory of democracy on 22 March 1992, the road to cooperation with the USA and the developed world of the “imperialist enemy” opened wide, and now, less than three months after that historic victory, President Xhorxh Bush receives our democratic President Sali Berisha in the presence of Mr. Xhejms Bejker, head of American diplomacy, and Mr. Rajërson, the US ambassador to Albania. It is not that he did not know Albania’s situation or was unaware of our difficulties, but through his conversation with Mr. Berisha, President Bush established an even stronger connection and developed even greater regard for Albania. This meeting is, at the same time, also a promise and a bond[??] with the USA. Therefore, after the meeting with President Bush, Berisha, Mr. Bush was an important achievement for Mi- [continues outside the frame] The reception given to President Berisha by a great national and international figure such as Xhorxh Bush also gives strength to our national cause, because it is direct support for it. At a time when Serbia is preparing plans for a massacre in Kosovo, the very fact that Mr. Bush receives President Berisha is a clear warning to Milosheviç and every warmonger that this small, martyred, brave, peace-loving and freedom-loving people enjoys American support. And this is not insignificant support, nor does it come at an inopportune moment. I would say it is a fair recognition of the spiritual bond Albanians feel with the USA, both for our brothers who live in America and for its own fantastic achievements in every field, which remain a great ideal for us. This visit is also a test for our compatriots in the USA. They are now welcome in Albania to invest and visit, because, as their [?] are protected, they will be protected by modern democratic legislation. That is why they are making a distinction between the two presidents, former communist president Ramiz Alia. American-Albanian are therefore still remembered with respect today. But then, for 50 years, the communist ideology of the dictator Enver Hoxha invented hostility toward the USA and every developed, democratic Western country, isolating Albania. The greatest harm that could be inflicted on a people was done to us. And as soon as democracy began to take root in Albania, the need for US assistance became immediately clear. The democratic and friendly work toward Albania by Mr. William Rajërson and the staff of the American embassy during the year that tested democracy in our country cannot be forgotten. It was moral and material assistance, a warm hand reaching out to open our eyes. Nor can we forget the outstanding broadcasts by Elez Biberaj and his colleagues at “Zëri i Amerikës,” which provided extraordinary moral and spiritual assistance in overthrowing the dictatorship without violence or bloodshed. Thus, the rapprochement of the democracies and of Albanian democracy—It developed even greater regard for Albania. This meeting is also a promise by this democratic superpower to stand by a small country whose people have such great love for the USA, especially among our freedom-loving youth. The green light was immediately given for the textile industry to resume work. Mr. Berisha’s meetings began in the American Congress and Senate; discussions were held in various important international institutions, banking bodies and other economic and political sectors, so that Albania could be viewed as a special case, since it is Europe’s poorest country, where the dictatorship was most brutal and merciless. Without concealing anything, President Berisha sounded the alarm about 1993, and humanitarian aid was promised. This does not mean that Albanians should not work. This will be salvation, helping us recover after the communist-socialist plague; alongside it will come technical cooperation, which will be formalized in conventions and agreements with the Fund Mo- invest and visit, because their investments are protected and enhanced Alia, who invited them but did not provide the necessary legislation, and President Sali Berisha, who, as a true democrat, invites them not as a courtesy but by legally guaranteeing all their property rights as well as dual citizenship. And not only them: every American businessperson is welcome in our country, as are other capitalists from the country’s [?] who will invest for mutual benefit. We will not describe the thanks, applause and hearts beating with mutual affection, because this article would never end. We want only to say that this historic visit is the magnificent crowning achievement of the entire diplomacy of our new democracy during its first three months of life. Without doubt, it will bear fruit for the benefit of suffering Albania and of the friendship we have and wish to strengthen even further with the USA.

Everyone acknowledges that the cause of Albania’s general deterioration was the PPSH and the socialist (communist) system it implemented with extraordinary zeal. But it is also known that the SP is the daughter of the PPSH, which Europe regards as the same party under a new name. Nevertheless, the SP trumpets that it is a different party. It does not answer for the mistakes of the PPSH, from which it has separated once and for all—with the former members of the Political Bureau—even though it has said little about Enver Hoxha. It seems to forget that it was the party that proposed the former leader of that infamous Bureau and of the party responsible for the country’s destruction, Mr. Ramiz Alia, for president. But the main reason it has not renewed itself is this party’s own anti-national stance toward democracy in Albania. This becomes clear if one analyzes the state of the country and the position of this party— The “victorious” PPSH buried Albania almost alive. To save the country, democratic forces rose up under the leadership of the Democratic Party. Thus, every Albanian who understood that the homeland had to be helped rose against the actions and the [?] of the PKSH or PPSH, first by citing Enver Hoxha and then by analyzing all the grave errors of his dictatorship. The question arises: what stance did the SP take, as a new party with European ideals, toward this tragedy? At the 10th Congress of the PPSH, which “turned into” the SP, only a piece of the pie was touched. On the absurd pretext that judgment of Enver Hoxha’s crimes was left to historians for later?! Worse still, the mistakes were admitted only grudgingly. That would seem to mean that, as a new party, they could do no more. Agreed. But what did it do later? It wanted to keep power at all costs, and when it could no longer manage that, many of its leading figures rushed to seize economic power as well. We can accept this tactic too, because everyone seeks what is best for themselves[?]. But what happened later? Events followed one after another. Through the government of stability, the SP wanted to secure international credit and steer the course itself. In other words, it was not guided by Albania’s interests but by narrow party interests. And yet these are not some kind of posi- [continues on page 2]

- Secret speech by Comrade Fatos Nano at the first SP conference in Korçë: - How is the SP doing at its first congress? Let us illustrate this with concrete examples! A few days ago the SP held its first conference in the district of Korçë, which was also attended by Comrade Fatos Nano, who delivered a secret speech. For this conference, the SP in Korçë also published a special issue (3) of the newspaper “Lira,” which contained a greeting to the delegates, excerpts from the conference report, a piece by a poor anonymous[?] writer from Moglica, and even banal articles such as: What Miss Sex does. Not a single word of Comrade Fatos Nano’s speech appeared in this special issue. Apparently, the old tradition of party-leader speeches “for internal use” is being maintained. Now let us take a brief look at what “Lira” publishes in “Excerpts from the conference report.” In the second section, entitled “Our party’s strength lies in the people’s support” (all that is missing is the photograph “Knee to knee with the people” of Comrade Fatos Nano!), it says, among other things: “The people want us face to face, with voice and image; they want us not half-finished, but complete.” They want to sit down and talk with us. Well, all of us, as representatives of a new party, were massively called upon to do so, but we sat down only during the campaign, when we should have done so earlier. And we saw that our voice was not being broadcast into the wilderness, as the DP trumpeted; quite the contrary... As can be seen, the report’s author boasts about the “successes” achieved by the SP in the 22 March elections. Let us remind this report-writer that in the Korçë district’s seven electoral zones, the SP won not a single parliamentary seat. This As for the paraphrase, image; they want us not half-finished, but complete,” it refers to the half of the former PP members who have refused to “renew” themselves by taking SP membership cards. They are being urged to join the other, “renewed” half! But how much has this half been renewed? To answer, let us quote a phrase from the speech by delegate M.F. (We are not writing his full name for fear he will be expelled from the party!), which provoked laughter in the hall: “How can this party be renewed when Comrades Njazi Shahollari, Jani Ballta and Alije Kalaja are here—former secretaries of the Labor Party committee, rabid Enverists and masters of class warfare?!” They say that the “A. Z. Çajupi” Theater hall had never seen such hilarity[??]- [text cut off at the edge of the image] Not a single phrase from Comrade Fatos Nano’s speech appears from the conference report.” In the first part of this “Report,” one finds only boasts about admitting new members in two or three villages. successes the SP achieved won not a single parliamentary seat. These facts show most clearly how much the people supported the SP in the Korçë district—and throughout Albania. never seen such hilarity in the entire history of its performances, from “Karnavalet e Korçës” to the comedies of Molière. M. F. was asking to continue his speech. While the laughter continued, two delegates in the hall had a conversation: “There’s worse, there’s worse!” “What the devil could be worse?” “Go once to the meetings of the SP grassroots organizations and see for yourself! It’s even worse! In Dhritash, at a meeting attended by Comrade Kostaq Duka, after they had discussed the congress and ‘renewal,’ an argument broke out. A member of the SP organization in Dhritas, Comrade Ali Shkëmbi, sharply criticized the Steering Committee and insistently demanded that a bust of Enver Hoxha be brought into the hall. Another person, in addition to the bust, praised the bravery and loyalty of Comrade Hysni Miloshi. It was even worse in the other organizations.” Order was restored in the hall and Comrade Fatos Nano took the floor. As we said, his speech is secret and for internal use, but we learned from indirect sources that, after striking the pose of a great economist, he mercilessly criticized the reform program of the Meksi government and, with his Marxist-Leninist genius, announced a program of capital importance for every party, today and in the future. The program will be worked on in the [?] and unveiled before the day. The program will be drafted secretly within the party, taking care that it does not fall into the hands of the enemy and the people. At the end, Comrade Fatos Nano let loose a few insults at the DP and shouted so loudly about “renewal” that the walls shook and pieces of plaster fell. At that moment his glasses fell too and shattered. An actor from the theater, a former PP secretary, came to help him and gave him Taruffi’s glasses. They say Comrade Fatos Nano will take the podium at the first (11th) congress of the SP wearing those glasses. BEHAR FEIZULLAI “RD” correspondent, Korçë

Talks with senators and heads of institutions On Tuesday morning, President Berisha and the people accompanying him met with executives of the “Oksiden-tal petroleum” corporation. After this meeting, he held a separate meeting with one of the directors of the World Bank and then with the Editorial Board of the “Washington post” newspaper. In the evening, he met with the American Senate and several senators from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: senators Kloj-rt Pell, Riçard Lugar, Allen Krenston, Denis Dekonsi and Robert Doul. In the afternoon, he held a televised press conference on the “Zëri i Amerikës” television channel. “RD” correspondent Meeting with Mr. Butros Gali President Sali Berisha was received on 17 June by UN Secretary-General Butros Gali. After the meeting, which lasted 45 minutes, President Berisha said the talks had been cordial and positive. Mr. Butros Gali assured me that the UN has a particular concern for resolving it and, within its capabilities, will intervene to prevent a conflict in the crisis region in Yugoslavia. In the evening, Albanians in America hosted a dinner in honor of the president, attended by around two thousand people. The head of the defense and artists brought by Butyrë said that Dr. Berisha’s visit marked a historic event for the Albanian community. “RD” correspondent Echoes in the American press At his meeting with President Bush, President Berisha said that Albania was doing everything possible to prevent the conflict in the former Yugoslav territory from spreading, writes Dejvid Bajnder in the “Nju Jork tajms” newspaper. Meanwhile, an article published in the “Uashington tajms” newspaper says that President Bush told President Berisha: “Everyone welcomes what you are doing to transform a country that was once Stalinist. President Bush expressed confidence that communism would become his recommendation and would grant Albania most-favored-nation status in trade with the United States.”

It is no coincidence that “ZP” has also launched an attack in the army. Its cynical writings have now become synonymous with division, insecurity and the creation of a state of tension. Of course, even today the PP (S) would be supported and backed only by the “head” of the army. This is explained by the fact that the PP (S) and “ZP” have never said even a word about the bureaucratized, rotten caste left by the Enverian regime. On the contrary, the PP(S) and “ZP” attack the reformist, more democratic forces in the army—the grassroots forces and the new people coming to power in the army’s “pyramid.” The PP(S) and “ZP” are trying to find some “mistake” in the appointments of new personnel. Their effort is futile. New people are coming to power in the army: untainted people with a strong reputation among the army’s ranks and from among its best-prepared officers. The group leading the army reform deserves the highest praise for these actions, which have been so measured and so well considered. Every action taken by this army reform group has been supported by all the grassroots officers. These actions have created not only trust but also a conviction among all the officers that reform is being carried out democratically and in a modern way. Is it insignificant to see first lieutenants and majors directing and commanding at the top of the army’s hierarchy? Does this not show that those who have long deserved it are taking power in the army? Why do the PP(S) and “ZP” not support the reform taking place in the army? There is a reason! It senses that even the conservatives on whom it relied are now leaving it. And this saddens it. The PP(S) has no way of supporting the future. It defends only the past; the future brings about its own destruction. The Democratic Party fulfilled its promises to military personnel. It promised to introduce ranks, and it did. It promised to raise their salaries. It raised them. It promised to integrate them into international organizations and NATO. It is doing so. It promised to carry out a modern reform and make the army like all the other armies of the European continent; the DP is also pursuing this objective competently. Military personnel should have confidence in the DP because, more than anyone else, it is interested in giving them dignity and not leaving them suffering and smeared, as the Enverian regime did. Military personnel who are placed on assistance as a result of the reform should have confidence that no one will leave them unprotected. They will be given a higher salary than that of an employee who remains in active service. But that is not all: the Democratic Government will insist that the military personnel’s “wounds” left open and “untreated” by the Enverist-Stalinist regime also be healed and made whole. If you ask the military, they all say these days that they trust the Government, the President and the DP, and that for the first time military personnel will live like human beings. ELVIS KULLA