The Pobrati trap, sensational in form and profoundly anti-democratic and revanchist in substance, was set up by the state security forces and their instrument, PP (S), as a serious attack and a signal of a kind of fascist coup against democracy. This state-security trap, which still feels powerful enough to commit new, horrific crimes and feed on the victims of crime, was preceded by the writings of Neshat Tozaj, that master of criminal indictments which caused dozens of years of imprisonment for wounded members of the Albanian intelligentsia; the man who so skillfully used the murderous knife behind the backs of young Albanian intellectuals who acted and wrote against the dictatorship, and who today, in a different suit, claims to be working to protect authors’ rights. It was prepared by deafening and incredible propaganda about the danger of establishing a new dictatorship, the supposed violation of legality, etc., conducted in the PP (S) press, in the streets and public spaces by security men and agents of the red mafia. Finally, it was prepared by being timed to coincide with vandalistic acts, provocations and theatrical demonstrations by amateurs against democratic power, the Democratic Party and democracy in general, in parliament and within the party itself. But those who falsify history cannot become its heroes. It cannot accept the conspirators who have been overthrown as successful in its advance. The Pobrati trap could have had no chance. Its wretched authors, accustomed to calculating their accounts throughout history solely on the basis of violence, could not and will never be able to understand that this new era, this current of the history of the Albanian people, and the conditions of normality in Albanian society can never be repeated. I think the one who used it together with Albanians who have long been dead is Luan Pobrati. As for Arben Imami, the self-proclaimed independent deputy, he was in the parliamentary session because he has plenty of evidence—or has collected plenty of evidence—about Gazida’s conversation with Pobrati. Mr. Imami, do not make statements; present the facts. In any case, they will be different from those in the Pobrati style. Nevertheless, they show that Mr. Imami, as he apparently once testified at Pobrati’s school of his art, continues to collaborate with him even now as Tirana’s independent deputy, whom voters threw out of the hall as a liar. THE SECOND LESSON: The daily consolidation of democracy in Albania, as it confronts dangers, intrigues, subversive and sabotaging acts of the most unimaginable and monstrous kind, with a giant apparatus opposing it at every turn and in every cell, and serving as a fanatical guardian of the dictatorship’s nostalgics, speaks to a truth that cannot be concealed or ignored. The fact is that the state security service has powerful collaborators and recruited them from among those who put Visar Zhiti, Fatos Lubonja and Jamarbër Marko in prison. Together, masters and collaborators are now laying traps for democracy, using every means at their disposal. Thus Remzi Lani publishes the false testimony of a criminal recruit such as Luan Pobrati. Meanwhile, Arben Imami, the self-proclaimed independent deputy, declared in parliament that present the facts. In any case, they will not be any the hall as a liar. THE THIRD LESSON: The democratic Albanian parliament cannot remain indifferent to the vortex of anti-democra— [text continues: “can never be repeated again.”] It has set along with the Albanians who have been dead since long ago— [text unclear]. In any case, fragile and secure Albanian democracy does not rule out the possibility of zigzags and a repetition of regression in history. Being aware of this, it does not sleep on its laurels; it draws the relevant lessons on every occasion, draws conclusions and acts. It understands democratic tolerance, but not to the point of manufacturing its own insensitivity; it respects rights in every field, but also has duties which, if not rigorously observed, lead to suffocation. It defends values and constructive action, but cannot allow political and ordinary crime to rise to power again, nor accept state terrorism in Albania again. THE FIRST LESSON: From recent events, Albanian democracy cannot fail to recognize clearly that all of this was already known, but is now once again appearing with all its regression: namely, that the Socialist Party is a blind tool of the state security service. It collaborates with it, acting as two arms of the same body, the same mechanism, the same purpose, the same ideology, the same crime. In its view, claims of being a genuine, constructive opposition are hypocrisy, cultivated during the years of Enver, Ramiz, etc. It takes up the persecutors’ threads and statements and bases its politicians’ activity on these threads and statements. This is neither a lack of information nor political naivety. A serious analysis in parliament of the historical relationship, Pobrati’s statements and the PS’s lies led to its complete parliamentary fiasco. Mr. Gazidedë answered the questions put to him with competence, honesty and transparency, proving with arguments and facts that everything being raised was slander and that his socialist allies were nothing but a staged farce. the vortex of anti-democracy into which they are trying to hurl it as well. It must [unclear] the arms smuggler Luan Pobrati. Together with his associates, he must answer before the judicial authorities. He sent dozens of intellectuals to prison, serving as an operative during the darkest period of the dictatorship. Pobrati must be brought to trial for crimes, and not only in Albania. A democratic Parliament cannot be endlessly broad-minded and fail to properly assess the problems that have to do with the fate of democracy, with its own fate being threatened by those seeking revenge for the democratic freedoms it has approved, thereby serving the rule-of-law state and its consolidation. Nor can it be insensitive to those who make a great fuss over imaginary “evidence” and prefabricated fabrications of well-known brands such as Arben Imami, or to those who have old ties with the state security service and, by their very nature, seek to sever them while shamelessly serving it. FOURTH LESSON: Albanian democracy must draw a definitive lesson from both history and our present days. The enemies of Albania have not accepted, nor will they ever accept, a democratic Albanian state. In the past, mercenaries of Belgrade and White Guards served them. New mercenaries have once again been put at their service. With these elements of [unclear] or the forces of darkness and anti-nationalism, only one language is effective: that of the dictatorship of democratic law. This language must be spoken clearly, harshly and unequivocally, without delay. Only in this way will democracy not once again disappear from Albania, leaving the way open for backward and totalitarian regimes. Only in this way will Albanians manage to enter Europe and the family of free nations with dignity. Any weakness or negligence is once again a step toward the gates of the hell of demonic communism.

- President Berisha meets Albanian traders and businesspeople - In Albania, as nowhere else, the consequences of the centralized economy were catastrophic, and its only antidote is the development of the private sector and the privatization of the economy. Therefore, the government must speed things up. It is reorganizing the privatization agency, which is indeed taking on a difficult but extremely urgent task. Delays in privatizing the food and construction industries are unjustifiable. Privatization could completely transform their economic performance. The creation of small private enterprises and the development of private business are very positive; they are advancing at a very rapid pace, primarily thanks to your efforts, energy and talent, and those of your colleagues. For this you undoubtedly deserve the admiration of the whole society, because no one has built up wealth with greater difficulty than you have, and through very great effort you have now managed to account for over 40 percent of Albanian imports and exports. You sell as many color televisions, refrigerators and household furnishings in one month as the state could not sell in two years. Whereas where you have not been allowed or encouraged to enter, shortages and poverty prevail and the market is extremely poor. You are the teachers and students of the market economy in Albania; you truly are self-made [self medic.], but you also have your own distinctive way of doing it. We should all admire your sacrifices, courage and resourcefulness, with which you overcome obstacles. I say that we should all agree to pay a certain amount of tax, so that the state too can be maintained and monitored, and so that it is known how much it collects and where it spends it. When we say taxes should be paid, they must in no way be suffocating, as is happening now. Under the current law, a citizen earning 100 dollars is left with 20 a month. This is unacceptable, and the government is right to be looking into it. I think, first of all, in the name of human rights, before an armed police unit comes to you, representatives of civilian institutions must come first, and the financial police should intervene only in cases of non-compliance or flagrante delicto. I have been and remain opposed to corruption, but honest people who make their living through their own sacrifices must not be attacked. You were the first to learn from freedom of ownership and free enterprise; you are and will be a strong support for democracy, regardless of your party affiliations. Therefore, I assure you that I will support you with all my strength. At the close of the meeting, President Berisha stressed that both parliament and the government should maintain a constant and permanent dialogue with you. He asked that dialogue between the government and the Chamber of Commerce be institutionalized as soon as possible. The latter should act as its counterpart, so that no economic law is adopted without consultation with the Chamber of Commerce and with you. He assured those present that the Savings Bank would either take over their financial activities or resolve the issue of taking foreign currency out of the country. As for passports, the President promised them a special status as traders, so that they would be able to travel freely. According to the Press and Information Office of the President. AMONG OTHER THINGS, AT THIS MEETING PRESIDENT BERISHA STRESSED:

On Monday, 21 September 1992, the Conference of the Berat branch of the DP held its proceedings at the Palace of Culture in Berat. It considered and analyzed The Conference of the Berat DP Branch held its proceedings -

On Monday, 21 September 1992, the Conference of the Berat branch of the DP held its proceedings at the Palace of Culture in Berat. of Culture in Berat. It considered and analyzed the party’s activities in the district from the period of the previous conference until now. At the end, the conference also elected the branch’s new governing commission. Attending the conference were the chairman of the DPA, Mr. Eduart Selami, the secretary-general of the DPA, Mr. Tomorr Dosti, and Dylber Vrioni, a member of the DPA presidium. The report delivered by Mr. Agron Musaraj, chairman of the Berat DP branch, recounted the experience of the DP’s struggle and efforts for the victory and consolidation of democracy; it addressed with concern the party’s organizational problems and set out concrete tasks for the branch’s future. Mr. Musaraj stressed that our branch had operated in difficult terrain, with a pronounced presence of Enverism, but had managed to succeed through patience and persistence. The conference was then greeted by Mr. Ferdinand Pane, chairman of the PSD; Mr. Petrit Ngallopo, chairman of the PR; Mr. Fatos Zdrava, chairman of the Association of Political Prisoners; Mr. Ylli Kapllani, chairman of the Independent Trade Unions; and Mrs. Kozeta Mëkula­si, chairwoman of the branch of the Democratic League of Women. The delegates then put several questions, which Messrs. Selami, Dosti and Musaraj answered. Opening the discussion, Mr. A­don Sinjori stressed that the Communists were conducting a great deal of propaganda with the slogan that the motion supporters had left and that intellectuals had also left the DP. This is just a bubble, since intellectuals are connected with the DP and its program, and our branch is the best proof of that. Mr. Eduart Dollani then stressed the continuation of the DP’s reorganization, especially in the countryside. Mr. Figiri Shehu spoke about the problems and concerns in the health section and requested assistance from the DP branch. Taking the floor, Mr. Eduart Selami stressed that the Democratic Party was beginning its new elections with the Berat Conference, and that this was an occasion for us to assess the work of the Berat DP branch. The time between one conference and the next has brought many changes in our country’s political life. Two historic victories have been achieved: on 22 March and 26 July the DP came to power, democracy triumphed in Albania, and the country embarked on the path of a market economy. But I want to focus specifically on the relationship between the party, the government and parliament, because unity and cooperation among these three levels will determine whether the reform is successfully carried out. All three levels must understand that on 22 March the Albanian people voted for a happier future, and they associate that future with the DP. Therefore, this popular trust demands commitment from us. As a party, we will continually demand that the government and parliament meet the people’s needs, move more energetically in this direction and take greater responsibility. As the DP, we are outside the party-state model, but every minister and every person appointed to power by the DP must remain faithful to the DP’s platform for the country’s development and stay closer to their own party. We learn about many problems only when we come to the districts, but it is not right for members of municipal and city councils who represent the DP not to attend meetings, regardless of the fact that the PS makes up the majority there. We must put forward concrete proposals to local government and make use of this opportunity. No party in Europe has 65 percent of the parliamentarians and 43 percent of local government. In this way we have acquired a great responsibility, because the people have the right to hold us accountable for how we are solving their problems and concerns. These are not resolved by talking and creating turmoil, but through commitment and discipline, by holding deputies, ministers and elected officials accountable. It is unjust that a small group of people who have gained power should choose only the issues that concern them, while putting little effort into the needs of others. They have the right to demand the removal of leaders of this kind who compromise democracy. These issues will be addressed in ... (Continued on page 2)

In connection with the case of Prosecutor General Maks Haxhia, the Presidium of the People’s Assembly presented a statement to Parliament the day before yesterday, which says that, on the basis of the motion submitted by the Chairman of the Democratic Party Parliamentary Group, the People’s Assembly of the Republic of Albania, by Decision No. 231, dated 17.9.1992, decided to dismiss from office ... the Prosecutor General, Mr. Maksim Haxhia, for the following reasons: Significant weaknesses, lack of objectivity and delays without any justified reason have been observed. (Continued on page 4)

“This work is profoundly hostile and its author an enemy of the socialist order” NESHAT TOZAJ the writer - the amber