On its path to establishing democracy, Albania won the friendship and solidarity of many states. Albania, on the path to establishing democracy, won the friendship and solidarity of many states. Having emerged from the dictatorial regime of self-isolation, the «homeland of the eagles» accepted civilization’s invitation to take its place, at the end of the 20th century, among the community of democratic states. Distinguished figures in politics, diplomacy, peace and humanism experienced its hospitality. As two Balkan countries with historical, cultural and other ties, the Turkish state was always alongside Tirana’s democratic forces, pointing to real possibilities for progress and national emancipation. Albania sought political allies, and Turkey proved gallant on every occasion. Albania sought economic allies, and Turkey was among the first European states to open its arms in favor of poor Albanians. Albania sought political alliances, and Turkey made possible its acceptance as an observer and later as a full member of the Assembly of Islamic Countries. Albania sought protection for the rights of the other part of its nation in former Yugoslavia, and Turkey played and continues to play a special role. (Continued on page 4)

Yesterday afternoon, at 16:00, the President of the Turkish Republic, Mr. Turgut Ozal, arrived in Tirana for a three-day visit, accompanied by politicians, journalists and businesspeople. At Rinas Airport, Mr. Ozal was received by the President of Albania, Mr. Sali Berisha, the deputy chairmen of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, and members of the Government. At 17:30 he held his first diplomatic meeting with the Albanian Prime Minister, Mr. Aleksandër Meksi. During the meeting, they discussed further possibilities for cooperation between our two friendly states in the specific field of cooperation and, in particular, regional issues, confirming the two sides’ views on resolving conflicts …deputies, and heads of the Diplomatic Corps accredited in Tirana. President Berisha, welcoming his Turkish counterpart, emphasized: “I am very honored to welcome you today, Mr. President…” Accompanied by President Berisha, President Ozal reviewed the honor guard. From Rinas, Mr. Ozal departed for the Palace of Brigades, where… issue. “RD” Correspondent

Among the possible alternatives presented by the ideologue of the Albanian socialists, Dr. Servet Pëllumbi, deputy chairman of the PS, the last one—that is, the third possibility—sets out the possibility of revanchist confrontations and the danger of a repressive and totalitarian regime. «Setting good manners aside, I say that this “prophecy” is a daydream of a screenwriter who earned his title by further enriching Marxism-Leninism. But I would like to ask Mr. Servet: why does the DP, which is in power through the free vote of the people, want to lead Albania into revanchist confrontations? Against whom will it fight, since it is the one in charge? Why don’t you say openly and directly that this is the desire of the PS, which, having lost power—that is, having lost control—seeks bloodshed as an alternative, since you were raised on it by the mother party you inherited? “With blood and resentment, we will not surrender power without blood” is the slogan of your clan. It was born in the days of the great upheaval. Yet the bloodthirstiness does not grow and grow, because it would end tragically. Why are you now trying to push the people toward a savage war, or toward actions analogous to those of Milošević? Because in Albania it is you who are communists under a changed name, with a measure of power, while Milošević is absolute in Serbia. I would advise you not to play with fire, for all Albanians have suffered enough; can this people live through it (as happened with you a couple of years ago)? Why do you pity the horseman whose legs are dangling, when he himself expresses no doubts about his success? And, to justify your malicious dreams, which drive a knife into Albania’s heart, you play on economic factors, whose difficulties we know well. But anyone with sense knows that the economy does not move in a single day, whereas under you and your mother party it would not have done so in 50 years. Even so, people no longer die in the village without having drunk a glass of milk, they no longer tremble over a piece of land, they are no longer forgetting what livestock is, and nobody in Albania is going blind because the goods they want cannot be found in the market. We are beginning with televisions and refrigerators, which were distributed by authorization only to the privileged, and going all the way to bananas, which for 50 years we saw only once in our market under the leadership of your mother party. Of course prices are high and there are difficulties, but those who work get to enjoy the fruits of their labor. And it seems to me that socialists are enjoying them more than anyone, including the families of your fellow party leaders, because they are, if not directly themselves, indirectly the bosses of private firms. And now let us turn to your first alternative. You call for a rebalancing of forces in Parliament (which can be achieved through new elections), a round table of the parties, a more capable government... and faster privatization. Very good, sir! Your party, which opposed private property, did not want farmland given to farmers, and called even the return of nationalized homes exploitation and a danger of restoring the former ruling classes, now comes out in favor of speeding up privatization. As if it weren’t you who, during your parliamentary majority, made every law lame and damaging to privatization. As if it weren’t you who sold state shops for next to nothing, solely so that you, or your relatives and friends, could gain something while you held power! Tell us, sir, which state enterprises did you privatize, so that we can engage in self-criticism for our delays? You privatized nothing, while democracy, if not a great deal, has done something. All trade has been privatized. Transport, too, has not done badly. Of course, more is needed... (Continued on page 2) …would have been tragic. a bloodbath, or toward actions like those of Milosheviç? You are the communists in Albania, under a changed name and with a measure of power, while Milosheviç play with fire, because this people has borne countless hardships on its shoulders and, through inertia (since you left Albania economically at zero), continues to bear them. They will not go away through historic calls for strikes and struggle, even if presented as alternatives, but only through work and unity to rebuild the country, and by honestly accepting the people’s verdict: they did not give you their vote of confidence to govern Albania. But since you have not learned to live without governing, you are proposing new early elections as a second alternative because you do not like the democratic government. You must not forget, Mr. doctor of Marxism-Leninism and failure, that elections are not like the game “you let me, I’ll let you.” They are held once every four years and are held sooner only in certain situations and circumstances, when the winning party can no longer govern. But, as long as the PD does not accept that it is complaining that it cannot govern in the region. At 18:30, Mr. Turgut Ozal was received by President Berisha, and they held official talks. Later, in honor of the Turkish delegation, President Berisha hosted a cocktail reception. You will read more extensive information about this visit in the next issue. “RD” Correspondent

Turgut Ozal, the eighth President of Turkey, was born in Malatia in 1927. He graduated from Istanbul Technical University in 1950 as an electrical engineer. In 1952 he went to the United States of America, where he took a preparatory course in engineering economics. After returning to Turkey, he became deputy general director of the Study Bureau of Electrical Works, where he worked on preparing projects and studies for Turkey’s electrification plan, as well as for the major hydroelectric plants in Turkey, at the Birfanli, Kemer and Demirkopry dams. During his military service from 1960 to 1961, he was assigned to work on the Scientific Advisory Council of the Ministry of National Defense, contributing to the Black Sea Copper Complex, the Seydişehir Aluminum Complex and the Istanbul-Ambarlı Power Station. Mr. Turgut Ozal was a member of the Technical Advisory Bureau of the Prime Ministry and undersecretary of the State Planning Organization in the period 1967-1971; he was involved in formulating and implementing the programs of Turkish policy for the development of industry, agriculture and exports. Mr. Ozal was chairman of the Economic Coordination Council, the Monetary and Credit Council, the RCD Coordination Council and the Coordinating Council of the European Economic Community. From 1971 to 1973, he was an adviser to the World Bank on special projects, such as various industrial projects... In the Prime Ministry, Mr. Ozal was responsible for economic austerity measures. He also followed Turkey’s economic relations with foreign countries. On 12 September 1980 he became deputy prime minister for economic affairs. He resigned in 1982. In 1983 he founded the Motherland Party and became Turkey’s 19th prime minister after its success in the general elections held that same year. Mr. Ozal remained in power for a second term after the early general elections in 1987, which again secured a majority for the Motherland Party. On 31 October 1989, Mr. Turgut Ozal was elected by the Turkish Grand National Assembly as the eighth President of the Republic of Turkey and began his term of office on 9 November 1989. Mr. Ozal has written several works on various economic and technical subjects and is the author of the book «Turkey in Europe», published in French and English. He speaks English and French; he is married and has three children. (ATSH) …of Turkey’s electrification; as well as for Turkey’s major hydroelectric power plants, at the dams of Birfanli, Kemer and Demirkopry. Ministry of National Defense, contributing to the establishment of the State Planning Organization. At the same time, he lectured at the Middle East Technical University. Mr. Ozal played an important role in the preparatory work and financing of the Keban Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant project. He also worked on the Bosphorus Bridge project. The committee of the first democratic leaders in 50 years in Albania, the referendum on democracy, and the refrain and dream of Albanians— integration into democratic European civilization—serve, and remain, a guide for our politicians in their aim of opening up to the world, becoming acquainted with and cooperating with the world, and integrating among democratic states. And undoubtedly, in this positive course of Albanian politics, the friendly country of Albania, Turkey, has played and continues to play a special role. he served as as various industrial and mining projects, as well as policies for developing the mining industry in developing countries. After returning to Turkey, he was employed in various industrial complexes and, toward the end of 1979, was appointed undersecretary to the prime minister. During the same period, he served as acting undersecretary of the State Planning Organization.

— “ZP” cries out about a blockade; the facts point to an unblocking “ZP” seems to be competing with its sister publication “Koha jonë” to see which can produce more slander, excuses, insults, fabrications, anonymous articles or petitions against the DP, the Meksi government and democracy in general. According to them, they have done no good at all and have brought only bad things. Their eyes see only one color: black. Their mouths spew only bile and poison, while now, apparently, we have fallen into hell. Fatos Nano has even more reason to justify himself, given that he views the country from Mount Dajti, where he often goes for weekends, and through the small windows of the planes he travels around the world in, complaining about the terrible things he is suffering under the “dictatorship” of democracy. Naturally, the world does not believe him and pays him no heed, because it has known Albania’s Enverists well for a long time. This is clear from the editorial in “ZP” of February 17, with the absurd title “Meksi’s Albania has blocked the country.” We can offer many arguments to prove the contrary. Let us focus on one field in which the PS and “ZP” itself have been and remain at the forefront: business. And even now they continue to be the most privileged and the biggest winners, thanks to the legitimate and illegitimate assets they “inherited.” Fortunately, none of those who work directly—or merely for appearances—for the “ZP” enterprise has been discriminated against or obstructed by anyone. In these two years they have gained perhaps as much as they did not gain during the forty-five years of their socialist era. On the business front, tens of thousands of private traders across the country are fighting and succeeding; they travel far and wide through many countries and have enriched our market as never before. In Tirana alone their number has reached nearly 10,000. Many of them have moved on from the tiny stalls they started in to large, modern premises offering a wide variety of expensive goods. Does this progress show…