NATIONAL LIBRARY URANE SABRIM Asked to comment on the published reports and the news circulating about the incident involving 6 Albanian diplomats, and to provide clarifications about the people implicated in this event, the spokesperson for the President of the Republic stressed that the notice published in the “Boston Herald” concerned the six diplomats Skoti Mon Neçaj, Paulin Kola, Arben Tefa, Ferit Hoxha, Fatos Rreka and Roland Luba. However, the spokesperson stressed that, as to the reason they were detained by Boston police, the information remains contradictory. According to the aforementioned newspaper, they harassed a woman who was a plainclothes police officer in the city of Boston, while other sources said that the incident had nothing to do with such harassment, but that the Albanian diplomats had approached her to ask for directions. The Albanian government issued a statement saying that an investigation into the incident had been requested [?] and that it was awaiting its outcome. It will inform the public about this incident so that it may be understood [?], and will give its final assessment of it. PRESS OFFICE AT THE INFORMATION OFFICE NEAR THE PRESIDENT

It can be said from the outset that those who do not support the economic reform currently being carried out in our country under the leadership of Mr. Meksi’s government are incapable; indeed, that is putting it mildly: they hate this reform. And for the simple reason that they were privileged under the dictatorship. For this group, everything that once existed and was destroyed by the logic of the democratic revolution will be remembered not only now, but for a long time, as a quiet [?] age; the dictatorship asked only for their obedience, which they supplied in abundance; it asked only for a lack of ability, which they likewise had in abundance. For this group, which now represents the most destructive wing of society and, out of political discontent, is tinged with shades of red, from deep red to pink, sometimes—this committee was broken up [?]—it is understandable that they howl, curse and insult the reform, calling it disastrous, a grave mistake. Their logic recalls the panic and distress of someone who was trying to sew with onions [?]… The reform will be carried out successfully. We have confidence in it. We support it, and our commitment is concrete. People must never confuse any shortcomings that cause concern for the Meksi government as it tries to overcome difficulties with the apathy of a minister; nor should they confuse them with the energy of the first democratic government. Let us not confuse inaccurate opinions with the responsibility and civic integrity that characterize this leadership team guiding the economic reform. For us, these things are now clear, just as clear is our confidence in the future it promises. That is why tens of thousands of people like us welcome the government of Mr. Meksi: A group of lecturers from the University of Tirana: 1. Jolanda Selimi, k.sh. 2. Petrit Rama, dr. 3. Pirro Veizi, k.sh. 4. Ardian Maçi 5. Ferdi Branushi 6. Murat Manahasa, dr. 7. Ilir Kaso, k.sh. 8. Myzejën Hasani, k.sh. 9. Arben Myrta, 10. Myzafer Çelo 11. Fidet Gjuzi 12. Lefter Klini 13. Emin Hershi 14. Ruzhdi Keçi 15. Eqrem Dashi 16. Petrit Havari 17. Vasfi Sykreta, k.sh. 18. Xhovair Rexhepi 19. Eizena Bijo, k.sh. 20. Irma Konomi, k.sh. 21. Luljeta Dhoskali, k.sh. 22. Ethem Shalhi, k.sh. 23. Iris Kongoli 24. Ridvan Shehi 25. Ylli Bujari, k.sh. 26. Ilir Kumbo 27. Leka Paparizi 28. Vehbi Bleta 29. Hajredin Mija 30. Etleva Vasjari 31. Erkeleida Emiri 32. Genc Vinsani

DETERMINATION IS NEITHER REVANCHISM NOR EXTREMISM — “The PS weeps and complains in order to halt the momentum of reform” — In speeches, writings and everyday conversations, March 22, 1992 was called the “end of communism,” the day of our liberation from the unseen tentacles of the Communist octopus. Naturally, in those first days, when we were overwhelmed or intoxicated by the euphoria of our great victory, we neither wanted nor had time to question the truth or accuracy of these statements or slogans. This mood led some people immediately to form and embrace the idea that, after March 22, having escaped the red Communist claws, we would move from hell into paradise; that our road would be a highway; that a cornucopia of the world would engulf us; and that democracy would, as if by order, give us all at once everything that Enver and Ramiz’s socialism had denied us for 47 years. But had we won pluralism and finally defeated communism on March 22? We wanted it to be true in words, but in our deeds, in life and in our work, we would often encounter the fact that this caretaker [?]—wounded, indeed, by theft—would torment us for a long time; and that the ghost or spectre of communism or socialism, with Enver and Ramiz’s faded, moth-eaten flag or with Fatos Nano’s freshly painted flag, would endure and fight back as both theory and practice, as a mindset and a structure. The relatively large human constituency that carries it and guards it fanatically; its known and unknown accumulations, [?], efforts, [?], corruption, whether in gold, foreign currency or Albanian money; old- or new-style profiteering in politics and the economy; its 50-year experience of deception and crime; and the survival of many of its elements even within the apparatus of the democratic state—all provide it with oxygen to survive, to oppose us and to do us harm. Through immaturity, naivety, occasional carelessness or euphoria, through indifference or sentimentality, unexpected or even deliberate tolerance, we have helped it and continue to help it… Recently, the foreign press has carried many articles and interviews in which various people, including journalists, have expressed their opinions and surprise about Albania. Thus, Mr. Murrej Sigar, director of the IMF, stated in an interview given to “Voice of America”: At the end of last month, the International Monetary Fund extended a loan of 36 million dollars to Albania. The International Monetary Fund will support its work in Albania in areas such as privatizing the economy, organizing banking groups and strengthening statistics, so that Albania can integrate as soon as possible into international trade. One of the most important results of the International Monetary Fund’s program is that it has had a positive impact, because Albania is moving toward the program’s systems and standards. They are aware that implementing the reforms will take time, but if the economic reform continues and this program is implemented, Albania will create a strong economic foundation and become integrated according to a new regional standard. In its assessment, it is said that support for the program is being provided now and that assistance to the Albanian state is ready. But it is also stressed that the Socialist Party, parliamentary cooperation and all institutions are needed to make it possible to implement the policy—a policy that will make the country’s prospects a reality. In August, the magazine “European” published an article entitled “The Heart of Democracy” by Robert Hortman. It then discusses the Democratic Party’s victory after 40 years of harsh dictatorship, harsher than in all the other countries of Europe; it inflicted human [?] and material damage on Albania. The democratic government has begun an economic reform comparable to that of other European countries. It has liberalized prices and cut jobs, but its difficulties are enormous, because Albania lacks many things: food and consumer goods are in short supply, and industry has very outdated technology. Governing Albania is perhaps the most difficult task in Europe. Nevertheless, we all believe in President Sali Berisha, who shows great confidence in Europe and the USA. Toronto’s “Mieli” newspaper published an article in which the author, Eric Margolis, stresses that on March 22 Albania broke away from Europe’s harshest Communist dictatorship and formed its first democratic government. President Berisha and the democratic government took responsibility for a completely devastated country and have undertaken a series of economic reform measures under conditions more difficult than in all the other European countries. The article then discusses Albania’s history and its development opportunities and prospects. The “Financial Times” published an article by Barry Newman in early September entitled “Starting from Zero,” on the newspaper’s front page. It says that Albania’s transition has been accompanied by the country’s widespread destruction. Albania emerged from this transition as if from a civil war. E. Hoxha’s dictatorship had made it one of the poorest countries in the world, but despite all this, it is a country making a new start: when the Democrats won the March 22 elections, the state began to awaken. It now has two tasks: to restore state authority and to break with the old totalitarian state. The private sector is developing; hoteliers are trying to obtain land on the Adriatic coast to build hotels; Çopo-copa is building a factory; Westerners are showing interest in chrome ore. Unlike the Poles and Hungarians, Albanians do not have to worry so much about the fate of their Communist-era industry and agriculture. Their new democratic Albania rests on a solid majority that came to power in April. Their President, Sali Berisha, speaks five languages and looks at me “avuar fear” (?)… On September 11, “Le quotidien du Paris” published an interview with President Sali Berisha entitled “Et ev-” [?], about a new Balkan war, conducted by journalists Katerinë Letar and Zhan Klod Le Musor. In the interview, President Sali Berisha stresses that the international community, and the European community in particular, must understand that resolving the Yugoslav crisis and preventing conflict in the Balkans always requires a solution acceptable to all the parties living in the region. He also expresses Albania’s position: it is determined to provide assistance in resolving the crisis and has no claims concerning borders. The President stresses that preventing conflict in Kosovo is very important, as this would avert the prospect of a new Balkan conflict. Issue 3 of the French magazine “Linjat bazë” (Current Affairs and Prospects) devotes a long article to Albania by Zhil Herson; the same magazine also publishes an interview between this author and President Berisha. The author says that after the March elections Albania managed to defeat the harsh Communist dictatorship and is now a democracy, but the tragedies inherited by President Berisha and the democratic government are extremely severe. Bunkers covered the country in all directions and created specially designed [?] structures, a striking feature of all the [?]. They evoke a gigantic flash of the Tartars [?] and represent the regime and its dictator. Destruction is what the government inherited: unrest, inflation and high unemployment. The author calls on the West to help President Berisha and the government overcome the difficult crisis inherited from the past. XHEVAT MUSTAFA

Recently, the foreign press has carried many articles and interviews in which various people, including journalists, have expressed their opinions and surprise about Albania. Thus, Mr. Murrej Sigar, director of the IMF, stated in an interview given to “Voice of America”: At the end of last month, the International Monetary Fund extended a loan of 36 million dollars to Albania. The International Monetary Fund will support its work in Albania in areas such as privatizing the economy, organizing banking groups and strengthening statistics, so that Albania can integrate as soon as possible into international trade. One of the most important results of the International Monetary Fund’s program is that it has had a positive impact, because Albania is moving toward the program’s systems and standards. They are aware that implementing the reforms will take time, but if the economic reform continues and this program is implemented, Albania will create a strong economic foundation and become integrated according to a new regional standard. In its assessment, it is said that support for the program is being provided now and that assistance to the Albanian state is ready. But it is also stressed that the Socialist Party, parliamentary cooperation and all institutions are needed to make it possible to implement the policy. In August, the “European” newspaper published an article entitled “The Heart of Democracy” by Robert Hortman. It then discusses the Democratic Party’s victory after 40 years of harsh dictatorship, harsher than in all the other countries of Europe; it caused human [?] and material damage to Albania. The democratic government has begun an economic reform comparable to that of other European countries. The “Financial Times” published an article by Barry Newman in early September entitled “Starting from Zero,” on the newspaper’s front page. It says that Albania’s transition has been accompanied by the country’s widespread destruction. On September 11, “Le quotidien du Paris” published an interview with President Sali Berisha entitled “Et ev-” [?], about a new Balkan war, conducted by journalists Katerinë Letar and Zhan Klod Le Musor. The President stresses that preventing conflict in Kosovo is very important, as this would avert the prospect of a new Balkan conflict. Tirana, September 26, 1992