The admission of PDSH to the EDU — Amid the rapid political developments in our country, very joyful news arrived concerning the decision of the Executive Committee of the European Democratic Union to grant the DP permanent observer status, the final stage that the EDU grants to democratic parties before their full membership. This news is the most realistic recognition that democratic Europe is giving Albania; it is the most important step in the international institutionalization of the new Albanian democratic system established by the DP and the other forces in the anti-communist coalition. Twenty-two months and twenty days of the DP speak clearly of a thoroughly democratic revolution. The DP, the first opposition force to emerge from the student movement, was formed under the conditions of the brutal dictatorship of the communist regime of the PP, solely on the basis of people’s free ideals. It fought fiercely against the communist dictatorship and brought about the [text unclear] of the PP, today the PS, becoming an example of intellectual steadfastness in the cause of a new democratic order. In last year’s Albanian parliament, the DP was not a quantitative majority but a qualitative one, demonstrating resolve, courage and political wisdom in approving the main constitutional provisions and other parliamentary decisions. After 22 March, in the new democratic parliament, the DP adhered to international standards, the principal principles of democracy, the direction of progress, the rule of law and the guarantee of the development of the new economic and political reform. In this spirit, it protected democracy, the law and reform from the acts of sabotage by socialist MPs and careerist pseudo-democrats from the DP, who declared themselves “independent” in search of a new party that would respect their political and careerist ambitions. The DP’s undeniable merit, sufficient to place this party in the manuals of nation-building and national contribution, is its foreign policy, which broke through half a century of isolation. During its six months in power, the DP pursued a precise line of political orientation that brought it into international relations. [Continues beyond the visible frame] [It pursued] European-standard policies, holding around 40 high-level meetings—more than six times the total for the entire century of Albanian diplomatic history. It secured Albania a respected place at the tables of world diplomacy, won the support of the most powerful and democratic states, and gained distinguished friends and well-wishers throughout the world. The Meksi government embarked on reform, creating strong support for a solid foundation of major economic development and the integration of the Albanian economy into the regional economy. The grants and numerous loans that came and continue to come to Albania; foreign investment in various sectors of our economy; support for initiatives and privatization, banking policy and other economic reforms from specialists and representatives of Europe’s highest economic and political organizations. The arrival of representatives of developed countries at the G-24 meeting was the best proof of Europe’s confidence in the progress of irreversible reform in Albania. The DP also pursued a foreign policy of understanding and good neighborliness among the countries of the region, denouncing nationalist chauvinist tendencies and becoming an initiator of peace, dialogue and mutual cooperation. ... [The preceding article continues:] The DP speaks free ideals. It fought fiercely against the brutal communist dictatorship and successfully achieved the greatest victory in Eastern Europe on 22 March 1992. Immediately after the fall of communism, as it implemented its program, the DP sought to establish the foundations of a new, civilized life. It is the party that secured human rights and, in this sense, may be called the Human Rights Party. Albanians emerging from dictatorship and self-imposed isolation dreamed of winning freedom. Their vote on 22 March sanctioned that freedom: with its victory, it sanctioned rebirth, survival, free speech and thought, and the path of progress for religious beliefs, education and movement. The DP freed people from the 50-year fear of persecution and pursuit and guaranteed them the unrestricted freedom enshrined in the Helsinki documents on human rights. Alongside individual freedom, the DP created a free society in which all citizens are equal before the law, the state protects and guarantees human rights, and the individual’s will is the driving force of progress. Based on today’s individual documents [text unclear] of the type: imam, dispersed imams below Çeka, [text unclear] in the name of [text unclear] human rights. The slanders by Beqajsha and Nano against Europe concerning the DP, and the false information sent by the DP deputy Bobarti, Mr. Imami, to international addresses against the DP, appear absurd and completely naive. The conduct of the democratic world is not based on individual slander, but on facts. The assessments of high-level organizations and political figures, and most recently the DP’s admission to the EDU, clearly demonstrate the falsity of the anti-democratic outbursts of certain governments and guarantee recognition of democracy. The DP [text unclear] bureaucracy, the Albanian uprising and repeated [text unclear] against the DP, calling it extreme right-wing, a dictatorial party and a totalitarian system established by it, while [text unclear] the political [text unclear], show that the Western world [text unclear] communism and that the contribution to the institutions of democratic reform created by the DP meets [text unclear] most accurately. The DP restored property rights to Albanians, basing itself on the system… The DP, through its insistence on isolating Albania, emptied the terrible dungeons of the dictatorship and prevented bloodshed during the transition from dictatorship to democracy. Together with all the democratic forces, it brought back to life, with their entire social and political foundation, the army of hundreds of thousands of Albanians who had been imprisoned, interned and persecuted, becoming their moral and legal advocate. The DP, with tolerance and composure, prevented the harsh developments of the communist scenario for civil war at the time the dictator was overthrown; it thwarted the attempts of former conservative power holders to stage a coup; it prevented political tensions provoked by the PP (S) and PK; and it definitively outlawed the communist-Enverist ideology as the source of our national misfortunes during 50 years of dictatorship. It dismantled the criminal weapon of the State Security, depoliticized the judicial, military and law-enforcement bodies, turning them into democratic institutions governed by law and guarantees for the protection and development of democracy. Recent developments proved that the DP would never allow justice and the law, in which the people and society believe, to be instrumentalized by particular individuals and clans; rather, it would remain determined to establish full justice and the rule of law. In establishing the proper alignment of political formations, the DP created the necessary alliances with anticommunists, firmly opposing the former socialist communists and Enver’s volunteers on March 22, to achieve what was achieved: the triumphant overthrow of communism. During the transition and amid heightened political developments, the DP agreed to participate in the government of stability, contributing to the preservation of stability in the higher interests of the homeland. The experience of this coalition was the best proof of the anti-democratic nature of social-communist politics. In government, some of the democratic ministers submitted to communist practices and forms of governance, becoming consumed by the fever of eternal power. This confirms the soundness of the DP’s decision, putting an end once and for all to the promises of “coalition paths” led by Çeka and Pashko. Generations and the norms of civic tolerance ... It secured for winning securing launched the country into reform, creating strong support for the full Albanian economy into the regional economy. The many grants and investment in various sectors of our economy; and support for initiatives, of representatives from and good-neighborly relations among the countries of the region, denouncing nationalist-chauvinist tendencies and taking the initiative for peace, dialogue and mutual cooperation. The DP’s policy on resolving the Albanian question in the former Yugoslavia played an important role in ensuring that the issue of Kosovo was treated seriously at the diplomatic tables of Europe and America, a fact ultimately confirmed in London and Geneva... All these achievements of the DP, made in just 22 months of existence and 6 months in power, were approved and received the support of democratic Europe, culminating in the decision to admit PDSH to the BDE. This was an important, positive event for advancing irreversibly along the path of the reform begun, for building a stable democracy, for the sound policy designed and implemented by the DP, and for the strength and vitality of the ...

Statement by the DP parliamentary group — The departure of the PS parliamentary group from the debate session on the motion addressed to the Prosecutor General, an issue of such importance, because of an article published in the newspaper «Zëri i Rinisë», written by a persecutor of the Albanian intelligence community, head of security at the University and founder of Albturizmi, Luan Pobrafi, clearly reveals an extremely tragic fact. The PS parliamentary group acted as if it were a blind instrument of the State Security Service; it played the game of this hated and criminal weapon, which, after persecuting and torturing an entire people for half a century, is now attacking the new Albanian democracy through the press and with the help of its collaborators. The PS parliamentary group’s failure to attend parliament, prompted by the article of a man stained by the hideous crimes he committed during his life, not only demonstrates the close ties that exist between the silent structures of the State Security Service and PS MPs, but also demonstrates these MPs’ evident lack of respect for their voters. It seems that the PS MPs are trying to bring about the parliamentary crisis they have been talking about for two months. Such an attempt is naturally desperate and quixotic; above all, it expresses the moral crisis of its architects. We are convinced that the PS MPs have reflected and will take their place in Parliament, the place assigned to them by the people, and not the place of the State Security Service. We, the DP MPs, are convinced that human nature requires not the abolition of the opposition, which would mean death, but the elimination of destructive forms and the regulation of all forms according to the principles of justice and humanism, so that people may feel that goodness is surviving. We also assure the Albanian electorate, whose votes brought us to Parliament, that we will work tirelessly and devotedly to represent it worthily and to resolve democratically the problems posed by the times. We assure Albanian and international public opinion that, with perseverance, we will build in Albania democratic legislation, democratic institutions and a contemporary constitutional order. History will judge those who want to replace democracy with an adventure for personal gain, turn reform into chaos and Albania into anarchy. As is well known, anarchy inevitably leads to dictatorship, but this people will not, under any circumstances, allow a return to a neo-communist dictatorship. THE DP PARLIAMENTARY GROUP

After a forced 47-year «barrenness», thanks to the advantages that democracy has created and continues to create, we are astonishing ourselves and the world with the dizzying speed at which new parties are being formed.

On 23.9.1992, «ZP», in an article entitled «Where are the minister’s brothers?», mentioned my name for the hundredth time. This time it attacked my refugee brothers and my late father (even Mr. Nexhmije and Enver Hoxha!), in the familiar communist style of writing biographies. In my opinion, it is not worth responding to the slanders of that newspaper! But I have repeatedly told my friends: «ZP» should at least be read this way: where it writes «yes», read «no»; when it says «father helped the occupier», read «he helped the National Liberation Movement». Perhaps that way one can arrive at the truth. Here is the problem. Twenty-five percent of the Albanian electorate gave their votes to the «ZP»-ists. I am convinced that most of them have been deceived and forget that they are dealing not with THOSE Stalinists who disappeared two years ago, masters of writing biographies. «ZP» has begun insulting even its creator, «Uncle Enver», «monism», the «security service», and so on. But be vigilant! They are the same ONES. Do not believe them, despite the fact that they have left behind the two [unclear] that are the roots of a person and the rule of law! I remember when they expelled me from the home of that mediocre comrade who [unclear] close and strong ties, when they told me: «There is an Albanian nation that wants you in your biography and ...», where we find ourselves in the history of the right to address issues. For biographical reasons, when they made me stand before the collective (for 8 hours) and forced me to account for the biographies of my relatives «up to six generations»; when I rejoiced with my family that they had «only» demoted me from engineer to worker and had not interned me, as had been «proposed by the collective»; when many comrades, friends and cousins kept their distance from me and considered it an «act of bravery» to approach me, because if they were seen with me, their biographies would be ruined; when security officers like «Pobratl» kept harassing me for months «in the hope that I would break» and they would make me their agent; and so on and so forth. I have never declared to «ZP» that I was persecuted. No, because, as I said above, under Albanian communism one cannot call it persecution in comparison with the thousands of unjust killings, imprisonments and internments. I mentioned the blows I suffered because I and dozens of Albanian intellectuals suffered them during the «glorious» 50-year rule of the «ZP»-ists. Albanians! We have won freedom! Do not let us lose it! Do not believe «ZP»—THEY want to return us to the «communist hell» and destroy Albania! They are the same ONES!

The DP speaks clearly of a thoroughly democratic revolution. The DP, the first opposition force to emerge from the student movement, was formed under the conditions of the brutal dictatorship of the communist regime of the PP, solely on the basis of people’s free ideals.

Through its insistence on isolating Albania, the DP emptied the terrible dungeons of the dictatorship and prevented bloodshed during the transition from dictatorship to democracy.

It secured for Albania a respected place at the tables of world diplomacy.

After a forced 47-year «barrenness», thanks to the advantages that democracy has created and continues to create, we are astonishing ourselves and the world with the dizzying speed at which new parties are being formed. Naturally, we are not opposed to the creation of serious, fundamentally democratic and national parties that will provide visible support and do great work for the benefit of the country, democracy and the nation. But we certainly do not agree that the fruits of democracy should also be enjoyed by those who, for 47 years, buried it in the mire and trampled almost everything underfoot, all for themselves alone. We mean the old and new missionaries of the Sigurimi: they have had and have neither honor nor morals; nothing affects them, neither soul nor skin, and therefore they try to present themselves as bloodied democrats. Even when their masks fall and their true faces are revealed, they are neither ashamed nor do they withdraw. They are thrown out through the door of one party and think nothing of climbing in through one of the windows of other parties, or of creating a new party. We ask whether the other part, following the same path, is now also including the «mononists» who left the ranks of the DP. Is this inherited, or is it a coincidence? The synchronization of their platform with that of the PS, which has as its vanguard the re- [cut off] [Text unclear] may be exhausted... Nevertheless, those who have left the «Moeio-nists» have names that they have now made known. They have also put their first and last names on the application and list for the creation of their new party. We are curious to know whose signatures, or those of what sort of people, they used to reach the number required by law to create a party. Did they do it with their own forces, or with the unstinting help of their Sigurimi comrades, for whom the pseudonyms Holtam Çifte-la, Gjeli, Cilën—who, after all, are their godparents? [Text unclear] In their efforts to create a new «macionist» party, they are convincing us that… [cut off]