—The President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha, Prime Minister Mr. Aleksander Meksi, Speaker of Parliament Mr. Pjeter Arbnori, and other dignitaries take part— Yesterday, on 26 March, Kavaja celebrated the third anniversary of the first anti-communist demonstration in Albania. Aleksander Meksi, Speaker of Parliament Mr. Pjeter Arbnori, members of the government, and other dignitaries went to celebrate with the people of Kavaja. Hundreds of deputies and citizens of Kavaja had come out to welcome them at the entrance to the city. On both sides of the road, which wound through neighborhood after neighborhood, the people of Kavaja had gathered to await the President. The cars stopped in front of the city cinema, where the ceremonial meeting was scheduled to take place. But as soon as President Berisha got out of the car, he found himself surrounded by hundreds of young people from Kavaja, who, shouting as they had once done, “To the square, to the square,” all headed for the square in the center of Kavaja. That was the square where, three years earlier, Kavaja had frightened the dictatorship; the square where the young people had said, “Enough of communism”; the square where the victory of democracy would later be celebrated. In the small room of a clinic, the President and Prime Minister, government officials, deputies, journalists, and citizens of Kavaja all gathered together in a little “commotion” caused by their enthusiasm and this message of defiance to the dictatorship. They called it a message to all Albania. “It was your city that first began the struggle and the efforts for democracy. It was the streets of Kavaja that were first reddened with the blood of the martyrs of democracy. You were the first to vote for democracy. The past year was difficult, but it was the year of freedom and democracy. Today, for all those who believe in freedom and democracy, their duty is to build a democratic state, to build the state of our ideals, the state we dreamed of—and that is the rule-of-law state. It is true that reform in Albania causes great pain, but it is also true that courage in Albania is greater than anywhere else. It is true that democratic ideals are stronger here than anywhere else. That is why reform in Albania is moving forward; that is why Albania is heading toward stability. We are building Albania, but not the Albania of the government and the state: the Albania of the citizen, the Albania of the individual. This will be a stronger and more prosperous Albania—the Albania we want. Today it has fallen to us to deal with the destructive consequences of a half-century-long dictatorship. state we dreamed of—and that is the rule-of-law state.” “Who has a greater right than Kavaja to make demands of the government and the President today?” he continued. “But who, more than Kavaja, should defend the President and the government?” At the end, in the name of Kavaja, he asked that 26 March be declared the day of the struggle against dictatorship and a public holiday. The President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha, then spoke and greeted the people and young people of Kavaja. “It was no coincidence that Kavaja was the first to begin open resistance against the dictatorship, because Kavaja and the dictatorship had long been at odds,” Mr. Berisha said, adding: “I believe that Kavaja fully deserves the gold medal of democracy.” “During the struggle for democracy, you showed wisdom, and I am convinced that you will show the same wisdom and energy you showed in bringing down the dictatorship in building freedom and democracy.” “Today, it is the duty of every Albanian to build the rule-of-law state. The rule-of-law state is founded on the freedoms and rights of the individual.” At Shkolla “Shejnaze Juka” in Shkodra, a library of literary works in French will be donated. EMBASSY OF FRANCE IN TIRANA The newspaper “KJ,” as well as the author of the article personally, bear criminal liability for violating Article 124 of the Penal Code, which criminally punishes the dissemination of false information that causes panic. information that causes panic. information that causes panic. information that causes panic. information that causes panic. OUPL STEERING COMMITTEE Tirana, 26 March 1993 communism, in the very They gathered in the small room of a clinic: the President, the all together in a little “chaos” caused by the excitement and this improvised rally. And, as in the old days, a megaphone was requested and found (since the technical equipment had been set up in the cinema hall where the meeting was expected to take place), and Sali Berisha stepped up to speak to the people of Kavaja. Here is what Mr. Berisha told us about this reception and the prevailing atmosphere in Kavaja: “Today’s atmosphere and this improvisation do not surprise me at all, because this is the only city in Eastern Europe that voted 98% for democracy. With its vote, Kavaja voted not just for one person. Kavaja voted for democracy; it voted for all of Albania. Then, amid the loud chants of “Freedom, democracy” and “Sali Berisha” from the people gathered in the square despite the torrential rain falling without letup, President Sali Berisha spoke. Addressing the citizens of Kavaja, he said, among other things: “Your celebration today is the celebration of democracy. March 26 remains in the history of Albanian democracy as one of its most notable events. March 26 was the outburst of the democratic spirit, the outburst of [devotion] to democratic ideals. The people of Kavaja on March 26 set... We are building Albania, but not an Albania of lies and of the state; rather, an Albania of the citizen, an Albania of the human being. This will be a stronger and more prosperous Albania. The face the destructive consequences of a half-educated dictatorship, but we still have strength and energy, because the people who brought down a dictatorship can very well build a democracy. In closing, the President wished the citizens of Kavaja a happy Bajram and a happy March 26. After the rally in the square, President Berisha and the other dignitaries visited the Mufti of Kavaja, Xhafer Shkodra, on the occasion of Bajram. On entering the town cinema, Mr. Berisha apologized to the citizens gathered there for the change of venue that had taken place: “But even those who lead,” he said, “need to be led, and that is why I followed the young people out to the square.” Among those attending the meeting were guests Mr. Aleksander Meksi, Mr. Pjeter Arbnori, Mr. Osman Kazazi, Mr. Tomorr Dosti, Mr. Sabri Godo, and representatives of the religious community. The mother of the democracy martyr Sufi Budo was also on the presidium. The first to speak was Sami Karkini, a former political prisoner, who gave an account of the events before and after the March 26 demonstration. After him, speaking on behalf of Kavaja’s anti-communist youth, Fatmir Veliu took the floor, saying that it was stronger and more prosperous Albania. The down a dictatorship can very well build a democracy. “... the duty of every Albanian is on individual freedoms and rights. In building this state, we must take care not to use the old copies, because they are the negative image of the dictatorship.” In closing, Mr. Berisha said: “We are certain that the difficulties are temporary, that poverty in freedom is a poverty that can be overcome. We must love Albania and fight as much as possible for the freedom of our fellow human beings, for a free and democratic Albania.” Afterwards, the “Torch of Democracy” medals were awarded to the initiators of the anti-communist movement in Kavaja. For Qazim Karriqi, who was killed accidentally, the medal was received by his nine-year-old son, who, after accepting it from the President, said: “I too will love democracy and will always fight for it.” After this meeting, Mr. Berisha and the other dignitaries went to Kavaja’s vocational high school, which was given the name “March 26.” Mr. Berisha also turned the first spadeful of earth to mark the start of construction on a housing complex that will be built with state funds. Finally, a dinner was held at the former Pioneers’ Camp in Golem.

The French-language group of the “Shejnaze Juka” High School in Shkodra won first prize in the “Version originale” competition, in which 35 European high schools took part on 19 March 1993, on the occasion of the Paris Book Fair. Among the 35 texts previously written on “a European theme,” the jury, made up of writers and publishers, in fact selected the composition by an Albanian high-school student. At the invitation of the French Ministry of Culture, two high-school students from this school, selected in a preliminary round held in Albania by the French Embassy and accompanied by two lecturers from the University of Tirana, collected their prize and took part in the Paris Book Fair. They had the pleasure of comparing their experience with that of the 80 European high-school students present on this occasion, and attended a colloquium on the circulation of ideas in Europe, in which many French and foreign writers and intellectuals took part, among them Mr. Besnik Mustafaj, Albania’s ambassador to France. As part of this event, the “Shejnaze Juka” School in Shkodra will be given a library of literary works in French. EMBASSY OF FRANCE IN TIRANA

“THE PARLIAMENT’S LITTLE SALON ... IS DISCUSSING.” DEMO...

—In the chamber of the social-communist People’s Assembly, the elected representatives sit as the monstrous tortures inflicted by their fathers are recalled!...— This Monday’s parliamentary sitting was not like the others. Not so much because a major constitutional law, such as the one on fundamental human rights and freedoms, was to be discussed, but because the accused, the mesmerizer and miracle-worker, the long-standing “television aspiration” of the parliamentary social-communists, would also be “present” at the session. They straightened their ties beneath their collars, put on their makeup, warmed up their voices a little in the corridor, and, after sharpening their tongues against the wall, charged off toward the chamber. 110 deputies, as this time. For some time, the People’s Assembly had been addressed by the first speaker... “Long live...” the “magic box”... that gathers them... Meanwhile, in the presence of that sacred law, one might have thought the impression had been created that silent consensus had been reached: that such a law should be established in Albania as soon as possible. And so the session began: Peter Arbnori speaks, so young and so humane that he even asks for his own executioner’s life to be spared; Skender Gjinuhi speaks—with tolerant criticism; Halit Shamata speaks—a balanced contributor; but one person had not yet spoken... Namik Dokle... And he could not speak otherwise. It was “the dedication of the forefathers” calling him. There could be no more “consensus.” A sacred law could not be accepted by those who accused others of violating homes and so on, while they themselves lived in violated homes; by those who accused others of tapping their telephones, when their own telephones had been given to them to tap others; by those who “wept” during the day over the plight of students whom they had hanged in the Communist night, and so on. Then came that ugly moment: someone from the right side of the chamber spoke of the endless, macabre and monstrous tortures used in Communist cells and camps. Meanwhile, the left side roared with irony, sneers and goggle-eyed looks from the social-communists... Oh God! Can such Albanians really be your creatures?! ...And if the spirit of the TV reel was not snapped, our pen, having arrived at this point, stuck on the word: BASTARDS!... R. SULÇE

FRENCH EMBASSY IN TIRANA The First Phase of Housing Privatization Dozens of families in Berat have approached the housing privatization commission to request to buy the apartments where they live. Within a few weeks, a great deal of work has been carried out to categorize the apartment blocks, many of which, as stipulated by law, will be granted free of charge. The numerous requests for a family certificate, the first document required to privatize a home, as well as the completion of paperwork at other offices, are evidence of families’ current ability to buy homes, and of their favorable prices. A new two-room apartment with a kitchen, in the second category, has been valued at 22,500 lekë. From the maximum amount specified by the Council of Ministers’ decision, money will be deducted for voluntary contributions, their immediate payment, etc. Under the law, around 6,000 apartments will be privatized in the district of Berat, and 3,200 in the district of Kuçova. ATSH

-This is in the best interests of the SP and Albania- The custom of our ancestors instructs us to respect those who come after us “everywhere”; even in the “rooms,” men laughed at those who only said “amen”! The people’s unity has taught generations to love those who admonished them, too; an Albanian has felt proud only when he has overcome a worthy opponent. That is why today we try to think about which one... That is why, with a hand as steady as a mountain, a man remains dignified even when our Executioner appears in the hall, still... That is why ... I felt sorry for the Democratic Party, which has to deal with opponents like you. I wanted to ask you, sir, since history has left you behind at the end of the twentieth century? Drawing on historical material, where you exchanged a beetle with a bell around its neck for a little pumpkin, which slowly... has been making you dizzy with the noise of its own trickling streams. Albanians are nearly groaning under the burden of sweat and because of communism, while you accuse the DP of revanchism! We are waiting for history to be reassessed; you protest that “today’s Democrats are turning the country into a place without history,” meaning without the history of the PPSH! Albania has been... for years, and we still have the DP program; as it asks, you believe that you see hope in the... You incite the peasant against these dispossessed owners, deceiving him with communist... that he is the sole creator of property, and against the DP, which, with servility, “... rummaged through the chests of former landowners and latifundists to find there their old, yellowed ...” People are breathing freely, conducting politics loudly in the cafés, even calling you barbaric and... while you howl about dictatorship. While the ... criticize the DP for being slow in restoring the ... , you curse it for supposedly dismissing people from their jobs for political reasons and, to provoke the author whom you think is still indoctrinated by communist slander, you spit out ...hope, and against the DP, which, with servility, “... find there their old, yellowed ...” While the ... criticize the DP for being slow in restoring the ... , (Continued on page 4)

Dear Prime Minister, Thank you for your message of congratulations on the occasion of my inauguration as President of the United States. I greatly appreciate your kindness and cooperation. In the coming years, I hope that we will work together on various issues. I recognize the difficulties you face at home and abroad. I want to assure you that the United States fully supports Albania’s economic and political transformations. I am ready to help establish peace in the Balkan region, an issue of considerable importance for Albania’s security and stability. I have confidence that together we will succeed in resolving all the problems. Sincerely yours, WILLIAM J. CLINTON

STATEMENT by the Organization of Retired and Discharged Military Personnel (OUPL) We, the members of the Organization of Retired and Discharged Military Personnel, having read the article dated 24 March 1993 in the newspaper “Koha jone” about the so-called “Dozens of tanks heading toward the eastern border,” are deeply indignant and express our protest against the press’s false claims. At a time when the entire civilized world is committed to addressing the problem of former Yugoslavia, to stopping the bloodshed, preventing the flames of this absurd end-of-century war from spreading further, and punishing the criminals, a raven appears among us, seeking with its macabre song to