The apartment of the Minister of Health, Mr. Tritan Shehu, is set on fire! Yesterday, at around 12:00 a.m., after all the members of the household of the Minister of Health, Mr. Tritan Shehu, had left for work, several still-unidentified persons poured flammable material beneath the main door of the apartment and set it alight. As the apartment was engulfed in flames, its neighbors smelled the odor and noticed the spreading flames and smoke. A- (Continued on page 4)

Let us also reckon with the danger of the DP reaping the benefit of the aphid [?] in order to triumph over all challenges The open opponents of democracy, old and new, have once again revealed themselves for what they are. Their coalition or front is physical and ideological, active and aggressive to the point of absurdity, immorality and crime. From it, democracy receives and will continue to receive only blows, obstacles, troubles and dangers. Conservative communist-socialists are afflicted by an incurable and contagious complex of domination, along with dogmatism, hypocrisy, demagoguery, careerism, corruption, Don Quixotism and utopianism. Blind conviction and loyalty to the ideals of their theory and fantastical system make them savage and urge them to stop at no adventure or crime. As such, they are sworn opponents of the path we are breaking through, of true democracy. Knowing them well, we remain vigilant and try to prevent their acts of sabotage, destabilization and revanche, or make them as ineffective as possible. But other forces, concrete or abstract, also join this front, directly or otherwise, openly or secretly. These latter differ from the former because they do not oppose us openly, showing their true face and spirit, but use masks and ambiguous actions, slogans, concepts, practices and dogmas typical of the socialist era. Pseudodemocrats bring great harm and danger to democracy. Given the way it came into being and was built, and the extraordinary pressure and intensity of its activity, the DP did not think of, nor have time to build, barriers or screens to prevent people from penetrating its ranks. Some have contributed to democratic processes, or have been entrusted with positions through nepotism, including a number of incompetent people. Their good intentions and sense of commitment have nonetheless not made it possible to compensate for or overcome their incompetence. They are victims of themselves, but also of those who have fed and supported their careerist ambitions. The longer they vegetate in undeserved posts, the more their harm and danger to the work and sectors in which they have been integrated increase. Positions are not awarded as decorations or rewards; they must be earned and justified through ability, culture, honesty and commitment. Corrupt individuals constitute a great and constant danger to the DP and democracy in general. Some have carried the virus of corruption from their distant past; others were infected during the golden age of exercising power. In the climate we are experiencing, the incidence of corruption is minimal [?] and susceptibility to it is maximal. Corruption finds fertile ground among Democratic officeholders who lack firm convictions, a developed personality and strength of character. If we let them sink neck-deep into the swamp of corruption, if we close our eyes, mouths and ears to their deeds solely because they wear the badge of a Democrat, the consequences fall many times over on the DP and democracy. The DP has been, and continues to be, harmed even more by the extremist actions of certain individuals who, whether deliberately or not, in order to advertise or establish themselves as “great democrats,” overstep the boundaries of its program. From the platforms at rallies or during [?], slogans, appeals or ideas have been put forward or passed through unchecked, openly contradicting the DP’s platform and activity. It has taken much effort and many articles to reduce or eliminate the confusing and negative effect of statements by Gramos Pashkos. Edi Ramës.., It is now well known that the “shock therapy” trumpeted as Gramoz Pashko’s scientific contribution was exploited by communist groups at the head of [?] as cover for their complete destruction of the country’s economy, while carrying out their scorched-earth tactic in 1990–1992. Extremist actions have also occurred during the process of carrying out the Reform. The orientation and criteria have been clearly and publicly defined, but individuals or bodies have often overstepped the mark and gone too far. ambiguous actions, with slogans and concepts, practices and dogmas typical of the socialist era. Great damage and dangers to democracy come from pseudo-democrats. Given how it was born and built, and the extraordinary tension and intensity of its activity, the PD neither thought of nor had time to build traps or sieves to prevent snakes or moldy rot from infiltrating its ranks. This lack, in terms of information, documentation and oversight, gave hordes of chameleons, careerists, corrupt people and former beneficiaries of privilege, people with evil habits, inherited or acquired, polluted up to their knees in the swamp of abuses and crimes, the chance to freely join the ranks of the honest, conscientious and committed members of the PD; some even managed to secure leadership positions. Having no reputation, ideals or morals, they serve only themselves, their families or their clique, greatly harming the image of the PD and democracy, and spreading clouds of distrust and disillusionment among the people. At their head are the “moncionists,” seasoned knights and fervent partisans of positions and privileges. Their band also includes pseudo-democrats of lower rank in the center and the districts. Those who managed to secure positions of power exploited them to the fullest to satisfy their careerist and business ambitions. Others, deprived of the posts they had dreamed of, turned with the ferocity of beasts against the PD and democracy and became their bitter enemies. The PD and democracy have also been greatly harmed by incompetent democrats. If, in order to reward them for the zeal they have shown in becoming deeply entangled in the web of corruption, merely because they bear the label of Democrat, the consequences fall many times over on the PD and democracy. The PD has been and continues to be greatly harmed by the extremist words and actions of certain individuals who, deliberately or not, in order to promote or establish themselves as “great democrats,” cross and meetings, slogans, calls or ideas have often been put forward or passed through unchecked that openly contradict the PD’s platform and activity. We have had to make great efforts and write extensively the statements by Gramos Pashko, Edi Rama... as Gramos Pashko’s scientific contribution was exploited by the Communist factions at the head of the country to bring about the total destruction of its economy, serving as their shield while they implemented the the process of carrying out the Reform. Its orientation and criteria have been clearly and publicly defined and expressed, but individuals or units have not infrequently overstepped the mark and gone too far. From the very beginning, the PD had to distinguish the leaders and their blind Communist-Socialist followers from ordinary Communists or Socialists, who, like most of the people, were tortured and discriminated against by the dictatorship. XHEVAT MUSTAFA (To be continued on page 3)

From the visit of our Minister of Foreign Affairs to Germany - Mr. SERREQI met with his German counterpart, KINKEL - From the visit of our Minister of Foreign Affairs to Germany GERMANY WILL INCREASE ITS ASSISTANCE TO ALBANIA - Mr. SERREQI met with his German counterpart, KINKEL - - At the invitation of Germany’s Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Klaus Kinkel, the Albanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Alfred Serreqi, began his official visit to Germany on March 2, 1993. In the main talks held between the two foreign ministers, satisfaction was expressed at the positive development of bilateral relations, as well as optimism and willingness to expand and deepen them further in the future. Having spoken about the significant political changes in Albania and the positive results achieved so far by the democratic government in implementing economic reform, Mr. Serreqi thanked Mr. Kinkel for the assistance and support Germany has given and continues to give Albania politically and economically, and for its integration into European and global processes. It was also emphasized that Albania gives particularly high priority to its relations with Germany, which extend to every sphere of life, whether economic, commercial or political. - A meeting was held at the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry between the Albanian delegation, headed by Foreign Minister Alfred Serreqi, and the German delegation [?]. “We are therefore willing to help Albania. The specific value of the assistance is determined by the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, while we offer assistance in these areas [?].” At the same time, the need to take urgent measures to prevent the violence and terror inflicted on the Albanian population in Kosovo was emphasized. - “It is to the credit of the Albanians,” Mr. Kinkel said, “that, despite this violence and terror, an open armed conflict has so far been avoided. Nevertheless, this situation cannot continue for long.” Mr. Kinkel emphasized that Germany too is interested in an economically developed Albania in every respect, since the German side is convinced that such an Albania will be an important factor for peace and stability in the Balkans and beyond. ★ ★ ★ - At the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry, a meeting was held and the German delegation [?]. of training. We are interested,” he said, “in the extent to which we need EC funds for agriculture; we can advise you on how to formulate applications for them. We can also help you participate in EC-funded projects, since we are also coordinators for these. We believe that a meeting to be organized at the end of March this year, concrete discussions at your embassy in Bonn, special meetings, etc., could serve for your proposals.” Next, Mr. Borchert wanted to know the current state of the population’s food supply. Mr. Serreqi explained that the food supply had improved, although shortages remained, especially in the northern region. Price liberalization also improved the population’s food supply; it led to inflation falling from 15 percent to 3 percent and stabilizing at 3 percent. Our current problem is rising unemployment, as well as putting a large number of people on social assistance (around 370,000 people). On the German side, Mr. Borchert described the work done in training Albanian trainees, which should begin in the future [?]. The areas of assistance should be better coordinated through concrete consultations, bearing in mind that we must do what is necessary, because we are not in a position to meet all the requests coming from former socialist countries, including East Germany. In closing, Mr. Borchert expressed his willingness to help us with every means at his disposal. (ATSH) A meeting was held at Germany’s delegation, headed by the Minister of Food, Agriculture and Forestry, Jochen Borchert. In his presentation, Mr. Serreqi said that the Democratic Government had the heavy burden of swiftly achieving the transition from a centralized economy to a market economy, with as little social hardship as possible, as well as creating and completing the necessary legal framework. To this end, it began the privatization process with the privatization of land. The results achieved so far are considered successful, since around 95 percent of the land has been privatized. Our goal has been and remains to bring the countryside out of backwardness. He said that the German assistance provided so far, in the form of tractors, fire engines, etc., had also helped us. For his part, Mr. Borchert stressed that they understood the difficulties of the transition from a centralized economy to a market one; from their experience with throughout this period, Germany’s support has been and continues to be successfully provided in the political and economic spheres, as well as for its integration into NATO, the EC, etc. On the situation in the Balkans, the positions were entirely identical. Serbia’s oppression and brutal repression in Kosovo were condemned, and the need for greater engagement by the international community to prevent the possible spread of violence and safeguard peace and stability in the Balkans and beyond was emphasized. ★ ★ ★ A meeting was held at Germany’s a market one; from their experience with

- The rule-of-law state must show its strength against ordinary criminals - The cases in which PAD leaders lose their sense of reason and resort to abnormal behavior, such as threats or physical confrontations with “RD” journalists, and sometimes with DP members of parliament, have increased considerably lately. Incidents and scandals have occurred in parliament and in ... ... To someone, especially a thug, this may seem a sign of strength and courage, but PAD intellectuals must understand, or at least sense, that these reactions are only signs of a feeling of impotence and despair. When PAD was formed, its founders thought everyone would flock to them and that, after a few months, they would topple the government and take power. They were so certain of this that they declared it everywhere, boastfully and as a challenge to the DP. Thus, convinced of this, they promoted their “undeniable superiority in intellectuals” over the DP, presenting it as the weapon that would “dismantle” the DP and give them power. And today? Today they “boast” that they have X groups of thugs ready to lynch anyone who wants to see them defeated. Is this not precisely a desperate sign of their “intellectualism and logic”? But they are wrong here too. If until now we have responded calmly to the actions of their thugs or those of the socialists, this is not a sign of weakness, but of superiority. The DP is building the rule-of-law state, and before this state, the answer ... ... road. In these cases, some of which have also been reported in the press, PAD leaders themselves are often personally implicated; there are also many cases in which threats are made in their name by the thugs they keep at their side, out front and behind. Unfortunately, a pattern has emerged in which the ranks of the thugs are often represented (the facts show) by the PAD leaders themselves. But what do these reactions show ... Unable to engage on a logical basis, they resort to physical actions, beating others, illustrating the familiar saying: “The use of force is the loss of reason.” The left-wing opposition, the socialists, have often displayed such signs too. Perhaps today they are trying to show that what they claimed was not achieved, but still di- Democracy does not mean anarchy, nor does it mean freedom for ordinary criminals and hooligans, even if they hold a parliamentary mandate. The law has determined where they belong, and the laws governing this category of people must show no mercy. It is no defense to say that we know how to protect ourselves too. EDI PALOKA