Those who took the peasants’ land from us by constitution are now opposing the DP, which seeks to make all Albanian villagers owners. — Those who took the peasants’ land from us by constitutional means are now opposing the DP, which seeks to make all Albanian villagers owners. — The European Community election results: a public vote of confidence in the democratic government, exposing socialist-communist propaganda and secret alliances for early elections as a bluff. — The leaders Nano, Agolli, Pëllumbi, Imami, Cela and Pashko emerge from this winter chastened and disillusioned. — For some time now, people have been talking about the property law, manipulating it in the hotheads of monarchists and socialists, in defense of the socialist collective property that the PP(S) enforced through constitutional genocide for 45 years. For some time, it has become fashionable to attack the Meksi cabinet and the DP, also calling for early elections on the grounds that this government has failed. When the DP responded with tolerance to the unprincipled attacks of the communists; when the leaders of the PS-PAD met and agreed on striking at the government and the reforms undertaken; when the socialists and motion supporters wore themselves out attacking the government’s draft property law... the European Community exposed them as bluffers: the blond-haired Ceka - Agolli, the philosophers Pëllumbi - Imami, the economists Pashko - Nano... ranking Albania at the top of the list of 18 countries in Eastern and Central Europe. The nostalgics froze, disappointed and ashamed. Instead of behaving as the editorial pages of «ZP» and «KJ» had crudely done, attacking the government, this time the people believed the truth—the EC, which represents the future, capital, and everyone’s dream. The conservative communist-socialist chorus, toasting the marriage with PAD-PS, is calling for both early elections and a referendum on the property law. None of them is so naive as to hope for a new vote before the «four-year term is up»; nevertheless, «the community will not give in» to their unconstitutional demand. a referendum on property, because if it did so, the DP would make the same mistake twice in a row. First, a referendum on property was held on 22 March, in absolute favor of the DP’s electoral platform. Second, accepting such a referendum would mean the destruction and a harsh standstill for economic reform. However strong the nostalgia may be for a government of the “stability” type, democrats should not be afraid to declare that there will never again be such an adventurist government in Albania, one that destroys the Albanian economy and culture. This people has a state built by free vote. This people has a government in which it hopes and believes greatly, and a parliament that works for it. This people will no longer tolerate political adventures. It has tied its fate to democracy and has not been disappointed by it. Let Kastrjot Islami draw up lists of ministers; let the drunken Driftero Agolli scream about uprooting the «dictatorship»—what the EC calls the advanced democracy of the year—and let Ceka, Pashko and Pëllumbi threaten; let «ZP» lie again: this people has given its four-year mandate, this people will not turn back, but will continue its progress with democracy. With the very same things for which «ZP» calls for the overthrow of the democratic government, months ago it gleefully reported the false news that millions in aid from the European Community to Albania had been canceled!!! Nevertheless, it continues to call itself «Voice of the People», when in reality, from its very founding, it has become a deceiver of the people. We have always sought the vote of the democratic world to see where we stand. The EC has cast its vote, strengthening our faith in a progressive future and in the democratic government, whose successes place Albania at the top of the 18 countries of Eastern and Central Europe. This is no small matter, especially since EC experts attribute this ranking to the popular vote of the 18,000 Albanians surveyed. AFRIM KRASNIQI

— Meeting of the President of the Republic Sali Berisha with Mr. Marshini Kamia, EC representative in Albania — TIRANA, 25 February. — First of all, said President Berisha, I want, through you, to express to the European Community the deep gratitude of all Albanians for the great assistance, which has been of vital importance for the victories and consolidation of democracy in Albania and for the progress of the reform. Albanians are very grateful for the generous aid that the European Community and the international community have given and continue to give Albania. The results of this study are undoubtedly encouraging and not at all surprising. They clearly show that the reform in Albania has a very broad foundation and is supported by the majority of people, regardless of their political affiliation—not only because the parties’ programs are almost identical on many points, but also because, in general, those who have suffered most value and appreciate the freedoms won most highly. But I want to emphasize that the results of this study are directly connected with the qualities that all Albanians possess and have never lacked. Among these I would mention their great courage and perseverance in the face of difficulties, but above all their optimism, which springs from their ability to create hope. I stress that these results also prove that European aid has had very positive effects. Moreover, the progress of reform and stability in Albania is of great importance to Albania and the region, and therefore treating it as a special case is essential for the future as well. We would be very grateful for your attention, given that we are bordered by two countries of the European Community that are included in this Community’s interregional projects, because the more we are helped by Europe now, the sooner we will take our place— (Continued on page 4)

«On the return and compensation of property to former owners» In principle, the bill submitted for approval addresses one of the most important legal and social problems preoccupying our state and society under the current conditions of our democratic development. Without returning property to its former owners, we cannot even contemplate moving forward with the reforms we have begun. The former monist state used the following methods to seize property: examining the methods used by the former dictatorship to take property, since it had no legitimate means, will allow us to determine more fairly the forms we should use to restore it. property: 2. Expropriation: Through expropriation, property was taken by force, but with compensation, and passed into state ownership. Through expropriation, ownership passed to the state. Former owners whose property was taken through this nationalization received nothing. Their property was taken by force and they were turned out onto the streets, often left without a place to live and without the most basic living conditions. These former owners must be given back everything they had, in the ways to be determined by this law. with compensation, and passed into state ownership. Immovable property (land, homes) was expropriated for two reasons: to implement city planning schemes, and when the state needed a dwelling for social and cultural purposes (a school, nursery, offices, etc.). When the state took a property to demolish it as part of city planning, the former owners were given a... In September 1967, they were given... for AZEM HAJDARI (Continued on page 4) In principle, the draft submitted for approval is one of the most important legal and social bills confronting democratic development. Without returning properties to their former owners, we cannot even think about moving forward with the reforms we have begun. That is why I consider the adoption of such a law essential. However, the methods on which the draft for returning properties in kind or in equivalent value is based do not fully conform to fair legal criteria, because it does not take account of the situation created during 50 years of dictatorship and does not protect the legitimate interests of third parties. To draft a fair law concerning the return of property, we must begin with the methods of…

“DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE” unveils its electoral program … declared that the time belongs to PAD, because, according to him, it is a party of intellectual, social, economic, archaeological, etc. alliances. President Ceka said that PAD was formed politically in December 1990; we cannot believe believe it, because in PD they called them not names, but the shadows of their security-service bosses. Ceka said that he was against the idea of shared guilt under the dictatorship, proclaiming PAD to be the party of dissidents. Ceka forgets his collaboration with the security organs, for which he was accused by his victim, Astrit Çorri. Ceka forgets how close he is to the infamous former prosecutor 3. Pashko, and to an Enver-era deputy minister, and also to the other distinguished one from Enver’s time, who [??] the country and [??] for [??], when the dictatorship departed from this world. He forgets Rudvan Peshkëpi’s comrades; after Teodor Keko; the actor of the skates, A. Imami? What intellectual does P. Zogaj want to gobble up, when he was in PD; together with F. Çupi they shut the road to intellectualism and progress; they took over the press and the party platforms. Which intellectual could follow the poet of alcoholic [??] and “erotic grammar,” Teodor Keko; whose contribution to democracy, according to the quotation P. Zogaj himself cited, was once getting rid of his beard and then his moustache, changing his signature song to copying Albanian-American portraits? Lawyer Ngjela, declaring himself a man of progress, stressed that he seeks progress by denying everything from the past: ideas, experience and thoughts of every kind. If Ngjela has decided to be radical, Ceka has lawyer Ngjela close by; a victim not of political convictions but of the struggle for power between his surname and the Hoxha family. All the intellectuals who heard P. Zogaj appeal to them to join PAD’s ranks felt insulted and humiliated. Which intellectual could follow Gramoz P… … Ceka - Agolli, the philosophers Pëlumbi - Imami, the economists Pashko - Nano, … thereby placing Albania at the top of the list of winners among 18 countries of Eastern and Central Europe. The nostalgics stood stunned, disappointed and ashamed. Instead of believing the banal editorial headlines of «ZP» and «KJ» against the government, this time the people believed the truth—KE, which represents the future, capital and the dream of all Albanians. It seems absurd, but today the very people who forcibly stripped Albanian peasants and innocent citizens of their property, using the police and the constitution, leaving them without land or assets, and collectivizing their property, hope and means of survival, are against the draft property law. It is precisely these communist conservatives who attack PD and its platform on property, with which it competed and won an absolute majority in the March 22 vote. In addition to them, some of the “distinguished” intellectuals are also against the draft property law—people who promoted this very proposal and won votes with PD on March 22, but who today, because of their fierce thirst for power, have gone to extremes and… - The tendency to deny everything while proving nothing, characteristic of PAD leaders - PAD’s harshest challenge to the Democratic government: why does it have bloated administrative bodies and, at the same time, why is it missing two more ministries—in other words, why does it exist and why does it not exist! - The intellectuals who are no longer alive will follow P. Zogaj and R. Peshkëpi - The archaeologist Ceka proclaims PAD to be the party of the dictatorship’s dissidents The self-proclaimed leaders of the party with 430 members (three more than the Party of National Unity), under the pretext of presenting PAD’s program, took their places in the national TV studio—the very studio they had called “anti-national” a month earlier; [??]; a month earlier they had called it “anti-national”; dictator… The European Community? The PAD’s paradoxes continued when they undertook to deny [??], bringing up former political persecutees. Ceka and Ngjela, in the name of their intellectualism and radicalism, declared that they respect former prisoners, but demanded that they be denied the right to hold power and to stand as candidates for official state positions!!! The PAD’s good tidings for the Albanian electorate were so great that immediately after their TV broadcast, two primary-school children called the programming department to protest: “Why did TV show other things instead of films with Lassie?” B. Lezha

Although the Public Order Directorate in Fier had granted permission for the rally of the socialist communists, hiding under the mask of the Confederation of Free Trade Unions, to be held in the stadium, the rejuvenated rally-goers nevertheless tried to gather in “Floria” Square. Surely they had fallen for the trick of the order officials: there are no windows to break in the stadium, so the socialists, accustomed since the period of Comrade Nano’s “dawn of [??]” to destroying [??], taking the lead—as in Pogradec, Fushë-Arrëz or Laç—became confused and demanded to hold their rally in the city centre. But the Public Order Directorate did not allow, and will never again allow, PS rally-goers to [??] their [??] from the time of the Government of Stability. Let us remind the Confederation that workers do indeed have the right to organize strikes, but this must always be done in accordance with the law. The Confederation’s support for other illegal actions cannot be passed over in silence or tolerated. RD correspondent

Yesterday at midday, on 26 February 1993, the DP’s activity meeting was held at the headquarters of the Democratic Party in Tirana, with the participation of the chairpersons and secretaries of the Democratic Party in the districts. Mr. Selami, chairman of the DP, opening the meeting, pointed out that the new elections had raised the Democratic Party to a new qualitative level, not only in terms of the high-quality selection of its leadership cadre, but also in terms of the organization and functioning of its existing and new structures. Mr. Selami stressed the reasonableness of the commitment (Continued on page 2)

NATIONAL LIBRARY TIRANA