WE SHOULD SUPPORT MR. MEKSI’S GOVERNMENT WITHOUT RESERVATION, BUT WE SHOULD ALSO CRITICIZE IT... Voltaire says: "even if a person changes religion in order to join a branch of a faith that has more followers in the world and is more heard and more respected, he would still be miserable." Why so? Because religion does not give freedom to the human spirit; it suppresses it. It pushes it to obey authority, dogmas, and denies it the right to doubt. To some extent, this phenomenon also happens to people who are not religious. In particular, it happens to idealists and democrats. They shift the center of gravity of their worldview from one religion to a doctrine. Voltaire calls this “secular religion.” In our time this is seen most clearly in the political orientation of many people. According to him, once a party takes power, its representatives behave arrogantly. The worst case is when such people use the power of office to sow fear. This means that instead of persuading with programs and reason, they demand submission. The experience of these last few years in Albania teaches us that democracy cannot be built without civic culture, without tolerance, and without constant criticism. Supporting a democratic government does not mean closing our eyes to its mistakes. On the contrary, real support must be accompanied by public responsibility, by remarks, and by demands for accountability. We must support Mr. Meksi’s government without reservation in its efforts for stability, reforms, and the country’s recovery. But this in no way prevents us from criticizing it when its policies do not produce results, when the administration behaves arrogantly, when some leaders forget that power in a democracy is service and not privilege. Criticism is not hostility. It is a form of civic participation. It helps prevent power from becoming detached from reality and from people’s worries. Only in this way can we avoid creating a climate of political servility, where every word of the leader is taken as infallible and every different opinion is denounced as treason. If we want a free and European future, we must learn dialogue, debate, and honest disagreement. A democratic party does not become stronger when criticism is silenced, but when it knows how to face it. Only in this way does the citizen remain free and the state gain credibility. A.NEUÇKAJ

(Continues from page 4) Free states sought political stability, established constitutional authority, parliamentary standards, the rule of law, and reformed the economy. There will be no lasting peace without democracy and security. Recent developments have shown that without building modern defense institutions, the new democratic countries remain fragile. The new concept of defense aims to create a professional army, with a smaller but more efficient structure; an army capable of defending territorial integrity and taking part in peacekeeping missions. It also calls for regional cooperation and new relations with Western allies. For Albania this means reforming doctrine, cadre training, the command system, and logistics. Modern defense is not only a matter of weapons, but also of the organization of the state, the economy, and support from citizens. (Continues on page 4)

Letter from Germany NO OTHER UNK UNDER THE SUN IS BETTER THAN UNDER SHQIPEN This time has frozen us as we cast our gaze upon our homeland. But while the mornings awaken the cold of longing, we keep the hope that Albania will become a worthy home for its children. Shqipja is not only a sign; it is memory, language, blood, and land. After decades of exile, many Albanians feel that their country is in need of energy, knowledge, and honesty. Under the free Shqipja, everyone can contribute, from the teacher to the entrepreneur. The homeland is not built with complaints, but with small everyday deeds. Many may find well-being elsewhere, but without the homeland one remains incomplete. That is why we say that no other unk under the sun is better than under our Shqipja. (Continues on page 4)

THE DICTATOR'S ESCAPE INTERVIEW - Sokol Hoxha declares that N. Hoxha supposedly wanted reforms of the system?! - The former chief prosecutor of the communist regime, Alia, has not spoken frankly. According to the newspaper E.C S. Hoxha was appointed and sentenced under an order from H. Ilir. - Sokol Hoxha can never defend Huli. The part of the interview in which Sokol Hoxha answers the journalist’s question about whether Aliu did not protect Albanians who tried to flee by declaring that yes, but with organizational and punitive measures, is also considered scandalous. This formula brings to mind Stalin’s and Enver’s phrase that where obedience ends, violence begins. Aliu never spoke of reforms of the system. He spoke of administrative improvements, of avoiding certain excesses, but he never questioned the foundations of the dictatorship. In this sense, any attempt to present him as a reformer is political deception. PËRSHERI

People write to us and ask. The "doctors" or the hidden ones. They want to know what is happening with Beni’s family? Is it again A. Nuro? Blocked? how is it going? with the files? Arrests? Is the rehabilitation of the former victims coming to an end? These and other questions are often addressed to the daily press. The answer is clear: work is underway to open the hidden truths, to clarify responsibilities, and to shed light on the dark period of political terror. The opening of hidden tunnels and documents is part of this process. In a country that seeks to become democratic, the past cannot be kept locked away. Only the truth helps reconciliation. (Continues on page 4) NATO Shovel career: YUGOSLAVIA, HUNGARY, ROMANIA, BULGARIA, ALBANIA, ITALY, GREECE, SERBIA, THESSALONIKI, NORWAY, HOLLAND, PORTUGAL, BRITAIN, TURKEY TITUS?

The relations between the USA and Albania. They have increased significantly after diplomatic relations were restored. In particular, the trade department of the US government pays special attention to the Albanian market. The economic and social developments in Albania are considered of great interest. At the same time, the new spirit of responsibility and the dispositions of the Albanian people are also emphasized. - Mr. Solly Nord, Deputy Secretary for Commerce in the US administration, who visited Tirana at the head of a strong group of American businessmen and took part in the Albanian-American seminar on trade and investment, expressed this interest more clearly. - Naturally we are interested in the value and image of your country because that will help us encourage our entrepreneurs to come and invest. People are afraid of the unknown, and the most frequent question they ask me is: "Is it safe to do business in Albania?". We are very pleased that time is also proving the fact that Albania has a very good climate for the foreign investor. A.NEUÇKAJ

PDSH bread 93 Oh, awaken, the beast upward!

Frauds like you play into the hands of the Miloševićs Madam(?) "ZP", you are neither more defamatory nor more vulgar than the Greek newspaper OPEN AUDITORIUM, FREE DIALOGUE The old female teacher is leaving on an ecezot? for this pension... JPJ AIRLINES TIRANA-ISTANBUL-TIRANA We are proud to serve Albania Tel. 042 / 230 - 26