In this article we focus on the issue of the democratic press during the period from 21 March to 26 July, which we believe it is appropriate to analyze, because it too, to some extent, has shown a degree of complacency, a degree of weakness, or, more importantly, a failure to fulfill its duty during an important period, namely the interval between the general elections and the local elections. During this period, the newspaper «RD» should have insisted more on identifying the reasons and causes that brought the economy to this dire state of poverty, identifying the real causes: the Party of Labour (Socialist), the governments, and the sectors—especially the Stability sector—which gave rise and opportunity to unprecedented and ever-growing corruption. At the forefront of the newspaper’s duties should have been to show most clearly the success the Party of Labour (Socialist) has achieved in degrading human beings. Through its 50 years of rule, it destroyed our people’s finest virtues. Perhaps figures and facts alone could convince our exhausted and hungry people: look what the PP(S) party has done to us and into what hell it has led us. We have often seen exchanges in the pages of «RD» with the 50-year-old «ZP». The old woman manages to insult the household’s daughter-in-law, «RD»; when the truth is on her side, she defends herself with the people, who love and support her. Thus, during the period we are analyzing, the old woman, with one foot in the grave and one in the pit, attacked and kept attacking the DP, its leaders and the government, rapidly and forcefully. We think «RD» fell into the trap laid in the press by «ZP». The latter attacked the leaders of the Democratic Party «through various stale pseudonyms», while «RD» responded to criticism by «ZP» journalists. The exchanges took on a more personal character, displacing the main objective: attacking the Labour-Socialist Party and its leaders, creators and defenders of economic corruption. By focusing more on replying to attacks by «ZP», «RD» forgot that this was precisely what «Zëri» wanted: to achieve economic and political reform. The newspaper «RD» was supposed to explain the measures to the public in order to help the reform. There could have been so many topics and articles that the newspaper would have had an abundance of pieces and investigative reports to leave a mark on its readers. The articles would have occupied the tired minds of the people, rather than the insults, slander and defamation of «Zëri», without forgetting that «Koha Jonë», «24 Orës» and some other disguised publications also support the old mother, speaking like comets in a clear sky. How much impact would articles have had on readers about the deeds of the bloc members in the capital and the districts, their luxurious homes, their boundless spending, and other such topics? Public opinion would have risen with an even greater sense of hatred and disgust toward these communist-socialists, who appear all red today and, driven by their needs and designs, think only of how to fleece the people whenever they get the chance. It would also have been valuable and influential for townspeople and villagers to hear from former prisoners and persecuted people in the press; with the suffering and impressions they carry, they would have made the people and electorate even more aware ahead of the 26 July elections. How much would the hatred of the people of Shkodër toward the communist-socialists have grown had it been known that 6,400 of its people were executed or died in prison during the Enverian regime? How fitting it would have been to publish an article about the victims of Koplik, whose graves the sons of Enver Hoxha’s paranoid regime left in the black pits of that town. In other words, the editorial team should have known how to engage more contributors, rather than taking upon itself the writing of as many as three articles under one byline! We believe that creating correspondents in the districts, as «Zëri» has, would have made the news in the paper livelier and fresher. But since it relied only on the central Editorial Office and on submitted articles—many of which were not published—the freshness and vitality of writing from towns and villages was missing. This is one of the reasons readers left articles unread: they did not touch them enough. The limited participation of Democratic Party leaders in the press also affected our newspaper. Articles that opened theoretical discussions on writing and solving problems would have been worthwhile if written at a high level, but in a way the mass of readers could understand and relate to. Therefore, there should have been greater participation by prominent contributors in the party press. Considering some other advantages as well, we think «RD» can do more, with the aim of using its pages to increase the force of its attacks against those forces that want to put obstacles in the way of Albanian democracy, as it should be—not sticks, as the saying goes. Therefore, «ZP» and its responses must be countered skillfully and in proportion to the circumstances, bearing in mind that «Zëri» also has its fox-like sisters in its own ranks. IDRIZ KALI This signatures), while “RD” answered the criticism of the ZP “journalists.” Politics was taking on an increasingly personal character, displacing the main objective: attacking the Labor-Socialist Party and the other leaders, creators, and defenders of economic corruption. By shifting its focus more toward responding what “Zëri” wanted: to divert attacks from its leaders and the party itself, which is discredited in public opinion and so easy to fight because there are figures and facts that make the article speak for itself. Thus, the attack was forgotten on the very thing that guarantees victory: the attack on the social-labor party and its leaders, compromised in various ways and through various channels. In Shkodër they say, “If you’re healing, cover it,” or, “Hit them with whatever they hit you with.” But there was a major difference between the newspapers “ZP” and “RD.” “Zëri” (which is not the people’s) had no journalistic ethics and no civic decency. It insulted and used street thugs’ language, while “RD” maintained proper standards in its articles. “Zëri i popullit” threw stones; “RD” answered with bread. Here, too, “Zëri” should not have been spared, because the people understand what is said clearly, at the level of the masses, with facts and figures. “RD,” having many articles pitched at the ordinary reader’s level, was not understood—I think it knows very well. The other issue that should have been central was proving to it that it had become politicized, that it wrote out of self-interest and was becoming part of the battles.

The Kuna Agency reports that on 24 August the President of Albania, Sali Berisha, who is visiting Kuwait, and the delegation accompanying him visited the homes of Kureln, which were destroyed by the Iraqi occupying forces. President Berisha also visited the exhibition of trophies from Kuwait’s liberation war at the International Palace. President Berisha was accompanied by the head of the honorary mission, the Minister of Oil, Hmoud Al-Kura.

. On 24 August, the headquarters of the Democratic Party was honored by a visit from distinguished compatriots residing in America: Mr. Antonio Athanas, honorary president of the Albanian Vatra; Toma Sotiri, chairman of the General Council of the Albanian Orthodox Church; Father Mihal Sotiri, parish priest of the Albanian Orthodox Church; Niko Qirko, the Albanian Orthodox Church in America’s representative who was imprisoned in Albania; and Migti. They were received by members of the DP leadership, Mr. Leka Toto and Mrs. Merita Zaloshnja, as well as by DP deputy Mr. Uran Butka and the head of the foreign affairs department, Mr. Bashkim Sala. On behalf of the DP leadership, Mr. Leka Toto thanked them for their visit and emphasized that their arrival had helped create a close connection between the Albanian Autocephalous Church and the Albanian Orthodox Church in America. One of democracy’s victories is freedom of religious belief. As far as the Orthodox Church is concerned, we have aspired for it to be based on the status of Noli’s Albanian Orthodox Church—that is, for it to serve Albanian identity. A church that serves another country will not enjoy the support not only of Albanian Orthodox Christians, but of our entire people. This has nothing whatsoever to do with isolation; rather, as an Albanian proverb says, everyone is master in their own home and has the right to worship God in their own language. Thus, I think your arrival and your mission are as much religious as they are patriotic and national. For his part, Mr. Antonio Athanas, after expressing his joy at being back in his homeland, emphasized that we are sons of Fan Noli. … municipal» greeted Mr. Do… sti. Discussions were also held … Communism in Albania is … another proof of how the fate of small peoples is played with. Let us remember the Yalta agreement and others. Yet this does not entirely absolve us. In Tirana, E. Hoxha and his criminal clique are chiefly responsible before our people and our history for bringing Albania to its present catastrophic state through a deceitful ideology and dictatorial tyranny. Gentlemen, anyone who has not seen Albania will find it hard to imagine where we are today, but much harder—indeed, impossible—to understand the violence and terror of these 47 years. Communist dictatorship was a misfortune for every people, but our misfortune was unique. It pains me, but I must affirm this truth. Yes, gentlemen, you who are free and democratic do not know what it means to be deprived of freedom, or to have one’s dignity and personality enslaved. You, who are educated and civilized, cannot understand how an innocent person—someone who wants freedom and justice—is seized; you cannot imagine how a mother is interned and locked up in barbed-wire camps with … For his part, Mr. Antonio Athanes, emphasized that we are sons of Fan Noli and, as such, regard nationality and religion as twins. What matters is that the Albanian Orthodox Church follow our traditions and that we not forget the words of Faik Konica on the occasion of the first mass in Albanian in America in 1908… Mr. Uran Butka assured the guests that the Democratic Party would always support efforts toward a genuinely autocephalous church, allowing no one to play with the national and religious feelings of our people. … is interned and locked up in barbed-wire camps with … In this endeavor, the DP and all … (Continued on page 2)

Speech by Mr. Tomor Dosti in the historic square of the city of Regio Emilia - I come from Albania, from a country of people in their prime, girls, women, men and boys, so many Italians and people of the West, but elderly people, because the president wants relatives near him, by a historical misfortune far from the cities of its development. In such a geographical position, as one of the points dividing and joining East and West, unfortunately Albania remained more separated from the latter, with this separation persisting throughout the last century as one of the most tragic events in my country’s history. Every people is itself responsible before its history, some more than others, especially my people. With every effort and sacrifice, many brothers have managed to stand firm through great years which, with their potential, determine the future of others. These days a delegation led by Mr. Tomor Dosti paid a friendly visit to Italy. On Sunday, 23 August 1992, at 9:00 p.m., before the crowd that had filled the historic square of the city of Regio Emilia—the «Municipal Square»—Mr. Dosti spoke. Open discussions were also held among representatives of various parties. Among the various speakers were the DC deputy and member of that party’s Central Executive, Mr. Kostanjeli, Mrs. Rosy Bindi, a member of the European Parliament, and others. Communism in Albania is tyranny, and behind it lie the strength and vitality of my people, this ancient people that survived by weathering the devastating and ruinous storms of the century. And I, as a son of this people, feel both pain and pride for it…

- The Hoxha family villa in Capri - It was the beginning of 1943 when Ettore Bonavolta deserted the Italian Fascist army and, together with a group of compatriots and friends, joined the partisan formations of Myzeqe, in the Lushnjë sub-prefecture. Ettore Napolitani fought alongside us until the liberation of Albania. This victory enabled him and the other Italian partisans to return to their homeland as fighters, dignified and free, and with many well-wishers in Albania. As time passed, especially after the years when the Communist Party and its leader E. Hoxha declared Albania a socialist state with the world’s poorest people, Ettore, prompted by curiosity and longing for his friends and fellow fighters, somehow crossed the iron curtain of the Albanian border and, as far as I know, found himself in Tirana around 1970. How he came, who received him and whom he met, I do not know. I can only say that after many efforts, or persistence on his part, in 1976 Ettore was able to meet me too, the author of this article, who had been his commissar. The meeting took place in the lobby of a 15-storey hotel. It was interesting. After 33 years, as soon as Ettore saw me at the entrance to the lobby, he parted from his friends and escorts and hurried over to embrace me fondly. In this way Ettore found the man he had been looking for, the man who had helped him, as far as the war allowed, not to kill, so that he could return alive to Italy. Ettore then became a friend of the family and whenever he came to Albania, he never failed to meet me. Around 1986, if I am not mistaken, Ettore came to Albania with his family. As an accompanying interpreter, PP continued to come. In Ettore’s presence too, he would tell us that he was also a close friend of the Hoxha family, whom he visited … Ettore never got in touch. I wrote him a second letter too, in which I said: «Do not forget your friends, acquaintances and fellow fighters. Come, we are waiting for you. We have bread and salt…» But again he did not reply. And strangely, he has not written to our friends S.K. and PP, who accompanied him, either. Why this silence, I wonder? Why this break with friends and comrades? What lies behind it? Questions which, dear readers, I think can be answered only by the specialized agencies of the Albanian and Italian states, after the relevant authorities first clarify these matters: 1. Whose villa is the one where the Hoxha family vacationed in Capri, near Naples? 2. When was it built or renovated? 3. What role did Ettore Bonavolta perform when members of the Hoxha family and other dignitaries came there for vacations or overnight stays? 4. Who else, besides members of the Hoxha family and other state officials and dignitaries, came to vacation and rest at that villa? 5. Who uses and administers that villa today, and what is it used for? Please help solve the Ettore-Hoxha mystery. VESEL AHMETI

From the Albanian-American Civic Association of the USA, sent to the Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Mr. Pjetër Arbnori Dear Mr. Chairman! The Albanian-American Civic Association, which represents all three faiths in the states of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, is concerned by the fact that recently the Communist Party of Istanbul appointed a foreigner to head the Albanian Orthodox Church. The Church Statute of 1929 (provision 16) prohibits the appointment of a foreigner as bishop and head of this church, as happened in this case. Metropolitan Anastasios is a Greek citizen and, consequently, his appointment violates the statute. The Orthodox Church of Albania is autocephalous and, as such, must be governed by Albanian priests. In 1950 the regime of the dictator Enver Hoxha reformulated the document in question (most Orthodox clergy did not take part at that time because they were in prison), requiring those appointed to religious offices to be confirmed by the government; but in 1967 the dictator eliminated the practice of religion in Albania, creating an atheist state. It is the duty not only of Albanian Orthodox Christians, but of all Albanians, and especially of you as members of parliament, to protest vigorously and, if necessary, annul this illegal and damaging act by the Patriarch of Istanbul. We respectfully ask you to give priority to this matter and do everything possible to protect the Autocephalous Statute of the Albanian Orthodox Church. Respectfully, MARK K. SHMIRELLI (chairman) Dr. SELAHEDIN A. VELAJ (deputy chairman) LULZ FUNDO (deputy chairman)