PD — WILL KEEP ITS PROMISES Press conference by Mr. Eduard Selami I want to announce the victory of the democratic forces at the local-government level as well; this is an important political step forward. This victory completes the picture of March 22. The PD remains the country’s main and largest political force, since in both levels of elections it won the highest percentage of the electorate, regardless of the number of municipalities and communes—which together amount to 12 municipalities—won by the PS. What distinguishes this victory from March 22 is that people did not simply vote against communism; they also voted for the new path that has been begun. It was not simply a vote for the idea of democracy, but also for its concrete realization, which has only just begun. The PD’s victory under today’s conditions of extraordinary difficulties and great shortages—bequeathed to us by socialist prosperity—is all the greater, and expresses the confidence of the majority of Albanians in setting out on the path of reform. The new democratic forces prevailed over difficulties, over communism, over the tragic fate that has clung to us and does not let us easily break away from evil. For this victory of the PD and the democratic forces, I thank everyone who voted for us, and assure them that the PD will keep its promises and will always stand by their side. I want to assure them that we, as the PD, will not allow anyone to squander the vote of confidence you have given them or use it for personal interests, turning the people’s faith in democracy into jobs for themselves. At the same time, I want to address the moderate PS electorate and urge them not to fall prey to the ambitions and careerist aspirations of certain sick leaders who cannot live without power and are the offspring of the nomenklatura members who destroyed our country. They must not fall prey to anti-national politicians—something the PS leadership has done in some cases—which will snuff out hope at any cost, rejoicing when aid does not arrive, becoming upset when the G-24 comes to Albania, and denying every achievement of democracy simply because they are not in the seats of power, as were their predecessors who destroyed the country. Finally, I want to clarify one of my statements, which was distorted and misused by PS chairman Fatos Nano, concerning whether or not the PD would help the PS. I stated clearly that the PD would not help the PS in the areas it had won, making it clear that we would not form a coalition with the PS and that the PS must take responsibility for the electorate it has won. It should not pull chestnuts out of the fire with other people’s hands. Why does the PS seek the PD’s help in the areas it has won? If it cannot fulfill its promises, why does it campaign and leave no room for other parties, or why does it run in so many areas if it cannot keep its promises? But it is understood that this may be a partisan matter, because when I was asked what the relationship between the communes and the government would be, I stated that these matters are regulated by law, as everywhere. As for the idea of dividing the country, which Comrade Nano and his comrades accuse me of promoting, I think these ideas are not original, because the first to formulate this idea was Enver Hoxha. For this reason, we must try not to continue wandering around the vortex where Enver Hoxha and their Ramiz left us, and to stop crawling when we should answer the call of our own interests and of the world, and run along the broad road, opened and paved by so many others—the road of democracy and the market economy. To instill and increase the people’s distrust of reform, sabotage it, and prevent it from quickly bearing fruit (as it has for others and continues to do), they are also exploiting the people’s saying, “Better an egg today than a chicken tomorrow.” Why shouldn’t we do as all of Europe does: save the egg so it can become a hen and lay us a hen tomorrow, along with many more eggs? And let us not forget: while the world is so well supplied with hens and eggs that it gives some to us too, just so we do not forget their taste, we still ask for hens and eggs in the market as if crying out at the bottom of the sea. That, then, is why we must accept that “a hen tomorrow is better than an egg today.” We have endured the world for 47 years; surely we can endure another 47 weeks, until today’s egg becomes a hen and the hen gives us many eggs and other chicks and hens. XHEVAT MUSTAFA the vote of confidence you gave time, I want to wish success and good work to everyone who won under the name of the PD and is committed to justifying that confidence. We, as the PD, need not only the electorate’s support, but also their criticism and suggestions; we must acknowledge some of the mistakes we have made. We have begun living in a society that requires every individual to contribute. In particular, I want to remind intellectuals that Albania needs them greatly at this historical turning point, and that they should take an active part in discussions of vital issues, because these cannot be dealt with by the parties alone. ...than before, and let us break away [?] from every misunderstanding. For this victory of the DP us and assure them that the DP will keep its promises and will always be as the DP, you gave trust in democracy into a seat of power for themselves. At the same all those who won under the DP name and are committed to justifying that trust. We, as the DP, need not only the electorate’s support, but also need to acknowledge some of the mistakes we have made; we also need their criticisms and suggestions. We have begun to live in a society where the contribution of every individual is required. them greatly at this historic turning point, and they must these cannot be dealt with by the parties alone. ...to take and seek [?] that we should not break away from evil. For this victory of the DP promises and will always be as the DP, you gave At the same these cannot be dealt with by the parties alone. Nano and his comrades accuse me of, I think their ideas here are not original, because the first to equate pluralism with division was Ramiz Alia, who, at a meeting with intellectuals, while arguing why there should be no pluralism, said that the Albanian people would be divided. The Prime Minister and heir of Ramiz Alia, drawing on these same feudal-communist ideas, distorts my statements and turns them into “minëcale e shalqi,” when my sole aim was simply to underline the party line of not forming a coalition with the PS. It is curious how the chairman of the PS, who says he has reformed, fails to understand and gets tangled up in very elementary matters relating to how a democratic society functions. But I believe this tangle also brought him success in the second round. ...even before, that he cannot guarantee the promises, and during the election campaign, as with the other parties, or why does he not appear in that area as much as he is able to keep his promises? But it is understood that this may be the party line, municipalities and the government would be, I said success in the second round.

From folk wisdom we also inherit the saying, “Better an egg today than a chicken tomorrow.” In a few words, folk wisdom expresses certain ideas or thoughts of people. But it also reflects their psychology and limitations, formed and consolidated under the determining influence of geographical, historical, social and economic, educational, and cultural factors. As a small country and people, fatally surrounded by larger, aggressive, and chauvinistic powers, we developed and widely embraced the idea that we should be content with what we have, not look farther or deeper beyond ourselves—in other words, make do with our meager resources. Even when some things that we had and were entitled to were denied or taken from us, we again submitted, willingly or unwillingly, to geographical or historical fate. Although our people are brave to an almost unbelievable, legendary degree, we undertook steps forward or good works with great hesitation, reluctance, and inner struggle... In wars we did not fear danger or sublime sacrifice, but in life and work we generally lacked the desire and determination to make great, significant leaps; we preferred to drag ourselves along rather than act. In wars we created innovative values, but in life and work we viewed progressive change with fear and suspicion, accepting it with difficulty and reservations. Naturally, this psychology did not arise and become entrenched solely through our own internal influences. Our enemies also encouraged, supported, and spread it. If we remained a people who aspired to little, were satisfied with even less, took small steps, and did not envy others who ran ahead and accomplished great things, it would be easier for them to achieve their aims. Enver Hoxha’s demonic mind exploited this to the fullest. Although we were a country with great wealth and potential, and had the conditions and strength to make great leaps and accomplish great works, he deliberately and with genuine national malice directed and led us into a small vicious circle, toward political and economic self-isolation. His deeply demagogic and deceitful slogans served this purpose: strengthening the austerity regime (so that we would make do with crumbs and not ask for the abundant, good bread the rest of the world had); “stretch your legs only as far as your blanket” (in reality, so we would not demand a blanket longer than the one he had cut for us); and “make do with our meager resources” (so that we would not become, as our potential allowed, the best-fed and wealthiest people in the Balkans), and so on. This conservative and regressive mentality is being amplified and spread today by every means and method by the PS and other forces, which aim and strive to keep us left us, and to keep us many eggs and other chicks and hens. XHEVAT MUSTAFA

On Sunday evening our television broadcast a report by Mr. Moisi Dalipi from Vlora. Until 5:30 p.m., the elections had gone well. Only when the PS representative arrived and arbitrarily told the commission members to stop the elections did disorder begin. When there is a central commission that makes a decision (and this right belongs only to it), why should the district PS committee interfere, stirring up discontent and sowing uncertainty? Messrs. Fatmir Zanaj and Sabit Brokaj, prominent PS leaders and activists, know the answer to this question well. They went so far as to file a lawsuit against the commission chairman, Mr. Kasem Roshi. You may ask: is there anything new here? There is. Because a few minutes later, in that same television program, there was also a report from Romania. The Civic Alliance in Romania accuses the former Romanian communists of doing everything they can to destabilize the situation and block the fragile democracy. Why? Because a complete victory for democracy would put some former communist leaders in the dock for their crimes, while many others do not want to lose—or want to regain—the privileges that system secured for them. Look at the resemblance to Albania’s former communists! The same detestable portrait, the same tactics for slowing historical developments. It is well known that no force can stop the process of communism’s collapse in Europe; nevertheless, in countries as extremely backward as Albania and not as rich as Romania, these efforts confuse people, negatively affect the disadvantaged, those who inevitably suffer from the reforms and transformations from one system to another, because it is a wound that bleeds. But democracy did not inflict the wound. It is trying to cure the disease through surgery. Anyone who has experienced the knife in an operating room knows what surgical healing means. And it is healing through pain. Yes, but it is necessary and brings recovery. But the former communists do not care about the homeland, Albania, or the people! All they want is not to lose the power that slipped from their hands, and to keep or regain lucrative posts, even by breaking the law and campaigning on election day, when it is known to be forbidden. Well, never mind: some PS (PPSH) deputy is allowed to go campaign on election day, because that will make him seem even more zealous to his leader, and in the future he will dream of an even higher post... Even so, it is painful to see some honest people continue to trust them. This is a national calamity, because it will keep us behind the rest of the world and will continue to keep Albania... (continued on page 2)

Following the statement, the PD chairman answered journalists’ questions: Asked again how the PD envisioned implementing the reform after the elections, which the socialists won by half, Selami replied that it was entirely possible to implement it despite the unspecified difficulties. The PS, he said, had declared its support for reform, had not moved away from it, and was not afraid to obstruct it. Nevertheless, the parliamentarians’ statements mean that the PS has won a percentage of the vote in the elections. As for coalitions, Selami said the PD was in favor of all political parties that had no ties to former communism. The other parties should decide for themselves. Asked whether the PD thought the time had come to create an anti-communist front, given a certain shift of the electorate toward the left in the recent elections, Mr. Selami replied that it was true the electorate had shifted somewhat toward the left, but added that this was also due to the high number of abstentions. Left-wing forces, Selami continued, had shown in other Eastern countries that they were organized, and that posed a danger to democracy. In fact, the current government is a coalition government of three parties, and the idea is a sound one: this coalition could be expanded. Asked whether the PD would also make a declaration about the nomenklatura members and the so-called village nomenklatura members, who used to campaign for the PPSH and now campaign for the PS, Selami said the party would continue to demand that the government bring the nomenklatura members before the courts. We will pressure the justice authorities to put these people on trial for genocide, not only for economic reasons but for political motives. As for the so-called village nomenklatura members, Selami said they are on the other side too, he noted [?], and on the other hand, I see no misunderstanding here. The president’s position is a compromise between that of the PD. Regarding the position toward the PS and the possible effect of the election results on that position, the PD chairman said our position toward this party is consistent and has always been clearly stated in the program. We are not in favor of a coalition, and that is final. Asked about the figures that could illustrate the PD’s victory, described as such in the press statement, Selami said this referred to what he had said in the statement as well: the main point is that more than 50 percent of voters voted for the democratic forces. If you count municipalities, he repeated, we won 13, equivalent to the 12 won by the PS taken together. Asked by a journalist from «ZP» why Mr. Selami had been seen alone during the election campaign, with most other PD officials absent, the chairman replied that these were «ZP» tricks, which had surely been devised over the years by Imperia- ...pluralism and revisionism, and now he is taking us on. In the absence of a press law, you can continue writing things said and unsaid, but I am sure you will not be able to withstand the competitive laws of the market economy. Asked whether the DP thinks the time has come to create an anti-communist front, in connection with a certain shift in the electorate toward the left during that the electorate had shifted relatively toward the left, but added that this was also the result of the high number of abstentions. Left-wing forces, Selami continued, have shown in other Eastern countries too that they are organized, and this poses sound: this coalition can be broadened. Asked whether the DP would also speak out more about the blockades and the so-called village blockades, whose organizers used to do propaganda for the PPSH themselves and are now campaigning for the PS, Selami said that in the party they would continue to urge the government to bring those responsible for the blockades to trial. We will put pressure on the justice authorities so that these people stand trial for genocide, that is, not only for economic reasons, but for political motives. Regarding the so-called village blockades, Selami said that they are also on the other side; here, he noted [?],

Germany, determined to punish under the law anyone who extinguishes innocent human lives without a qualm of conscience, has finally managed to bring the former East German dictator, Erih Honeker, to Berlin and place him before the courts. Its determination was not about revenge or retaliation, but about upholding justice and teaching all dictators that they cannot escape the trials of their own time or of history. Erih Honeker will answer for his actions and be punished first and foremost as the person who ordered the killing of five people who tried to cross the Berlin Wall. But our own Erih Honeker, Ramiz Alia, continues to live freely, although he is directly or otherwise responsible for, or ordered, the killing of dozens of Albanian sons, whose lives were cruelly taken because they wanted to escape the communist-socialist hell and cross the barbed-wire border, which for us is larger and more terrible than the Berlin Wall. Naturally, as a pupil of, and one of the most distinguished professors in, the Enverist school, he will try to portray himself as innocent as a baby, shifting responsibility onto his subordinates and collaborators, who were zealous and obedient to the point of savagery, such as Hekuran Isai, Simon Stefani, and others. Also weighing like a mountain on his conscience are the four sons of Shkodra, who were killed on April 2, 1991. Their mothers and wives had their lives and bodies blighted; their children were left orphans. On orders from Tirana, four stars of democracy were treacherously and heartlessly extinguished. The murderers’ hands fired... (continued on page 2)