FROM BERISHA’S VISITS TO ... GJIROKASTËR AND ... THE ONLY WAY FOR ALBANIANS IS TO EXPAND THE SPACES OF FREEDOM On Saturday morning, President of the Republic Sali Berisha organized a meeting at the Municipality of the city of Gjirokastër with ... the city’s mayor, members and other officials of this branch, deputies. In his speech, President Berisha pointed out that Gjirokastër is one of the few cities in Albania that has ... economic activity”, ... [he considered] it very important that in Gjirokastër the traces of the transition are not ... as great as in other cities. This is due to the democratic culture of ... Pointing out the difficulties faced by local government, he asked ... political [parties] not to make the functioning of ... the local authorities more difficult with their propaganda. “The parties should ... ordinary people in local government ... not make its work more difficult,” he stressed ... He mentioned the work done ... by the government to draft the statute of ... and expressed the view that ... impartial conduct and criteria ... are important in their selection. President Berisha criticized centralist tendencies that hinder the work of local government, as well as ... tendencies toward localism ... asking that the claims of ... across the country be taken into account. Relations between free people and ... are always a promise of freedom, President Berisha pointed out. The minorities ... and Albanians in Gjirokastër are ... a clear expression of the spaces of freedom created by democracy in Albania. While ... expressing his appreciation that minorities ... and Albanians in Gjirokastër live in ... friendship with one another, Mr Berisha cited the undeniable fact that the cultures of the Greek people have lived side by side for thousands of years without challenging one another. This was a manifestation of the dignity and emancipation of these two cultures. During the continuation of the meeting, President Berisha exchanged views with the participants on issues concerning the district’s economic development, coexistence with minorities, harmony among political forces, etc. In their discussions, the participants presented a picture of the city’s economic and political life, its achievements and consolidation at the present stage, and suggested concrete ways to develop it. Of the 5,600 people receiving assistance in the Gjirokastër district, half belong to the city. This figure shows that local government has made the greatest possible use of the employment opportunities created by democracy. In particular, expanding the spaces of this freedom, transferring initiative to ordinary people, and eliminating bureaucratic obstacles should be the main concerns of the local administration. The need for legal and social protection for Albanian workers now employed in joint ventures with foreign companies was emphasized, as were assistance with agricultural machinery and suitable equipment for private farmers, increased attention to and a stronger legal framework for school attendance, and support for the idea of removing bureaucratic obstacles governing relations between the district education directors and local authorities. [An] economic phenomenon. Any speculation with ... serves to strengthen this ... Albania, through its policy ... is becoming a model for addressing the national question in the Balkans. In response to complaints, Berisha spoke about the government’s economic support for ... Dropull, its assistance for the development of mountainous areas, support for ... education in the mother tongue, as well as ... political coexistence and ... Below, President Berisha ... the speculative interpretations of ... certain Greek press outlets concerning the way these newspapers portrayed his visit to Dropull as a preliminary preparation for Prime Minister Meksi’s visit to Greece. He emphasized that Albania has been recognized by the international community as a country where human rights are respected, along with the rights of national minorities. His explanations regarding concerns raised by the residents of the village of Goranci about economic and social problems were also received with interest.

-Meeting of President Berisha with citizens of Gjirokastër- In the afternoon, at the city cinema ... President Berisha organized a meeting ... [with] the people of Gjirokastër and members ... of the political forces. In his speech, President Berisha praised the role of the people of Gjirokastër and of the city in Albanian cultural history, and highlighted the positive achievements and economic growth that have begun to emerge in the city, now that the free-market economic reform has begun. Free initiative, the President stressed, is the opportunity ... offered to people to ... create opportunities for development. He praised the positive role played by emigration in the city’s economic life, expressed the Albanian state’s commitment to protecting emigrants, and stressed that it is our duty to base the country’s economic revival on our own work and that we will achieve this soon. “We ... the assistance given to Albania by the European Community, the USA, NATO, the Arab countries, etc., showing what opportunities the free market offers a country for development. He promised the state’s support for strengthening and promoting the values of national culture and a commitment to making use of Albania’s intellectual and cultural potential. In conversation with the participants at the meeting, he explained the Government’s work to implement the law on land, the passage of the law on compensation for former owners, and the state’s commitment to hand the economy over to the people, which will lead to the total privatization of the economy, etc. He also mentioned the increase in respect for freedoms and human rights in connection with these matters. In a society emerging from a long dictatorship, respect for the human being is needed first and foremost. We are guaranteeing this to Albanians, President Berisha said. He then also answered other questions concerning property issues, land distribution, relations with minorities, social issues, etc.

... during the visit to Poliçan ... enthusiastic welcomes, fruitful conversations Photo G.Xhengo ATSH

-From President Berisha’s visits and meetings in Poliçan and Çorovodë- During his visit and meetings in the district of Berat, President of the Republic Sali Berisha went to Poliçan in Skrapar, where ... the work of the residents who had been ... in other ... welcomed him ... somewhat [altering] the official program of his visit. In his speech, Mr Sali Berisha ... on the constitution of the people ... the achievements and democratization and ... that we ourselves and the Government ... there will draw up a plan ... so ... and [ensure] the freedom of Poliçan ... by working hard and through ... also to enter the path of development ... Then President Berisha made a ... at the production complex ... where ... he became directly acquainted with the situation ... and the industrial life ... The Prime Minister ... “The complex will ... under the presidency, while preserving ... its production output and ...” ... also, by restructuring most of it so that it meets civilian needs and demands. This will be done in parallel with the Government’s commitment to create new jobs. After this visit, the President of the Republic took part in an open meeting with officials, workers and other residents of Poliçan at the city’s cultural centre. The President was briefed by Poliçan Mayor Arshin Tusha, who informed him about the city’s economic and social situation and the most pressing problems currently facing Poliçan. The President said the situation was difficult, but not without prospects, because Poliçan is not run by democrats, but by the communists of the Labour Party. The President of the Republic’s speech was accompanied by shouts of: “Sali Berisha, Sali Berisha”, “Freedom, democracy”.

A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK IS SOUGHT FOR SENSATIONAL STORIES IN THE OPPOSITION PRESS April ’93

On Sunday evening, the Ambassador of the French Republic in Tirana, Zhak For, and his wife hosted a cocktail reception to mark the conclusion of the elections in France. The second round was also held on 28 March, deepening even further the Socialists’ heavy defeat and the overwhelming victory of the right. Ministers Tritan Shehu and Ylli Vejsiu also attended the event. “RD” correspondent After this meeting, Mr Sali Berisha went to the city of Çorovodë, where he met with members of the district council, the municipality, commune heads, etc. The chairman of the district council, Venetik Zaimi, gave an overview of the difficult situation in the district, where 7,800 people are receiving assistance. He stressed the need to unblock privatization and ensure the functioning of local government, and requested greater assistance for agriculture in the form of machinery and [unclear: ferra]. The people of Skrapar, he stressed, support the reform toward a market economy and are convinced that the one-party system has taken people’s [freedom?] away forever. In his speech, President Berisha supported many of the observations and suggestions made by the councillors and local government leaders, describing them as well-founded. He congratulated them on the distribution of land, which would be carried out strictly in accordance with the law. The President told those present that an amendment on the purchase of land would soon be introduced and that village lands would not be returned to former owners, but compensation would be provided. As an example, he cited the distribution of the lands belonging to the state agricultural enterprises. The President promised to support the progress of privatization, provide assistance with agricultural machinery, etc., and [unclear] the people of Tomorr, as well as to insist that they be included in the Agricultural Bank’s programme for poor areas. President Berisha said that the transfers of specialists and managers were not made along party lines, but according to the mistaken view of certain local leaders. He then addressed the issue of domestic debt, the activities of local government in accordance with the law, etc.

Yesterday at the International Cultural Centre in Tirana, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Greece to the Republic of Albania, Mr Kristas Caligis, hosted a cocktail reception on the occasion of Greece’s national holiday. Attending the reception were the Prime Minister of the Republic, Mr Aleksander Meksi; the Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Mr Pjeter Arbnori; the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Order, Bashkim Kopliku; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alfred Serreqi; the Minister of Health, Tritan Shehu; the Minister of Education, Ylli Vejsiu; deputies; members of political parties and associations; and ... other guests. Representatives of the Diplomatic Corps were also present. The reception took place in an atmosphere of ...

A pretense of social-communist bad faith “YOUR PROBLEM IS THAT YOU LINE UP AND THEY GIVE YOU THE COMMAND TO ATTACK” “... I saw him as my judge, who, after 18 years in prison, added ... another 12 because I had written a ... overly human novel... Do not think that I am so vindictive as to take revenge on him.” “OUR HUMANISM (a quality that communist nostalgics cannot know) IS NOT WEAKNESS. “We have taken away from you the operational right of the Security Service and the party organization secretaries to put people in political prison just because their wife was beautiful, their house was beautiful, or they had a good job...” “THIS IS A TERRIBLE VIOLATION OF THE RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF THE BEAR, NOT OF THE HUMAN BEING”. “... Take with you, too, the insane [case?] of an 18-year-old young man, whom they caught at the border, tied him up, then killed him there without trial, tied him up after he was dead, bloodied, in a truck... and paraded him around to frighten the people... together with Ramiz[in] we sent (for treatment abroad. Ed.) another 17 people sabotaged during Ramiz’s time and by certain other gentlemen who now complain to us with crocodile tears about violations of human rights...” “THE GREATER PART OF YOU TAKE UPON YOURSELVES RESPONSIBILITY, GUILT, CRIMES THAT YOU NEVER COMMITTED, SOLELY FOR THE SAKE OF SOMEONE WHO GOT IT INTO HIS HEAD TO BECOME PRIME MINISTER, PERHAPS EVEN PRESIDENT...” “AND EVEN IF YOU VOTE AGAINST... WITH THIS LAW OR THAT ONE, WE WILL CONTINUE TO PERFECT THESE FREEDOMS...” READ ON PAGE 3

KARDILI AND CARLI: CORRUPTION ASPECTS OR...? -Torkuato Kardeli ... an Italian company that he would ... the contract ... a person of his. -Kardilli and Francesko Carli (a friend of Nano) entangled in this matter. As we reported in an earlier article, these details will also be presented in ... and involve the individuals ... mentioned above. SLAVO-COMMUNIST CANNIBALISM Dushan Mugosha [did something] to Albanian partisans ... (According to Kosovo testimonies, to be published in a leaflet from that time...)

MER0 BAZE (ATSH) E.P