— From President Berisha’s meeting with German parliamentarian Shvarc — during this short period,” German parliamentarian Mr. Stefan Shvarc told the President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha, at their meeting on Tuesday. “I have followed developments in your country with interest through the press and TV, but what I am seeing here, this rapid and visible progress, has impressed me.” President Berisha, for his part, acquainted the German gentleman with the progress of democratic developments in all fields, and thanked him for the valuable assistance that the German government has given and continues to give Albania, both economically and politically. The conversation then focused on the extremely grave situation in the region, on ways to prevent the conflict from spreading—which would have catastrophic consequences—and on the valuable influence Germany is exerting in support of the new democracies in Europe, both bilaterally and through the European Community. President Berisha and Mr. Shvarc also spoke at length about the grave situation of Kosovars under Serbia. (ATSH)

A demanding year has passed: the former communist party changed its name for the second time, going from PP to calling itself PS. The same thing happened with its publication, «ZP». A year has passed; the former communist party changed its name for the second time, going from PP to calling itself PS. The same thing happened with its publication, «ZP». This publication, too, went from being the organ of PP to the organ of PS, except that it did not change its name, to make it clear to everyone that «ZP» was still what it had been, and that the latest change was nothing but the penultimate change. On some occasions, in their propaganda campaigns, the so-called socialists in the leadership of the so-called PS have tried to show that PS has no connection with PK and PP. Likewise, using absurdity, they say that «ZP» has no connection with «ZP» either. The purpose of such propaganda is quite clear. The Revolution of ’90 expressed all the hatred and revulsion of Albanians toward communism and its supporters. At the center of popular government was also the mouthpiece of Albanian communism and Enverism: «ZP». And it could hardly have been otherwise. Founded by E. Hoxha, «ZP» became the greatest divider of Albanians. It was «ZP» that trumpeted the “victory” of the Mukje division. It was «ZP» that heaped praise on Tito and Stalin, those “great friends of the Albanian people.” And yet, shamelessly (or to cover up their shame), at the head of the PS organ, under the title «A Tribute to “ZP”», the little paper founded by E. Hoxha in August ’42 is described as the central organ of LANC. After ’40, «ZP» would be the ideologue and executor of LANC; on the basis of ’40, «ZP» would be the ideologue and executor of PK and PP’s crimes against Albanians. In the pages of «ZP», the innocent victims of the red crime were denigrated and demoralized. «A Tribute to “ZP”» says that «ZP» supposedly called for freedom, democracy, and progress. It called “for freedom,” and in response to this call by «ZP», the prisons of Spaç and Burrel were built, along with the great prison that was Albania, surrounded by barbed wire. It called “for democracy,” and after this call the prisons were filled with victims, whose only crime was to seek freedom and democracy. It issued a “call for progress,” and in response to this call, in the 1970s the Albanian intelligentsia was destroyed; with these calls Albania was filled with bunkers and remained the poorest country in Europe. We all know what «ZP» calls for: calls for bloodshed among Albanians; calls for war against imperialism; calls for war against bourgeois remnants; calls for war against private property; calls for war against kulaks, koka-kolës and blu-xhin-save. That was «ZP», and the socialists know it well too. That is why they talk about renewal; that is why they say PS has no connection with PP. But their sentence becomes absurd when they say that «ZP» has no connection with «ZP». «ZP» has shown that it will remain what it has been: a mouthpiece for anti-communism, the division of Albanians, calls for blood (or skull-cracking), and the fight against American imperialism (or the American ambassador). Nevertheless, the leaders of PS-«ZP» continue trying to present the old prostitute as a young virgin. According to them, the world must understand that they have renewed themselves. But sometimes, apart from mistakes, they have nothing else to show for their childishness. Thus, after tiring themselves out and insisting that «ZP» had no connection with the newspaper founded by E. Hoxha, with the former organ of PK and PP, they suddenly raised a toast to the anniversary of «ZP». In other words, with their own mouths they admit that the virgin «ZP» is merely a 51-year-old old woman. It is true that they have sometimes failed to mention its founder and first editor-in-chief, but they do not forget to mention «ZP»’s glorious past. By “honoring” 51-year-old «ZP», the extremist leaders of PS honor the 50-year criminal period of their party, thereby removing the mask of the supposedly renewed.

“Nano’s rights have been violated just as much as those of the Greek minority in Albania,” declares a Greek MEP. Yesterday’s issue of «ZP» published a question that Euro-deputy of the (left-wing) Coalition, Aleksandros Alavanos (Greek again), addressed to the foreign ministers of the EC, calling for F. Nano’s release. According to the Greek Alavanos, “All the facts indicate that this is persecution for political purposes.” And here are the “facts” and “arguments” which, according to the Greek politician, prove his thesis. The fact that the prosecutor who ordered Nano’s arrest was young. In other words, a young prosecutor, even one newly appointed, supposedly has no right to issue an arrest warrant. The second “strong” argument is that, while Nano is accused of misappropriating 8 million dollars, his family lives in a four-room apartment. In other words, Nano should have immediately built a palace to prove that he had stolen the aid. But the “strongest” argument the Greek MEP offers in support of his thesis is when he says that “Nano’s imprisonment coincides with numerous manifestations of the Berisha regime’s antidemocratic behavior.” Among these “antidemocratic manifestations,” the Greek MEP also lists “violations of the rights of the Greek minorities.” There, then, is the essence of this further statement, which reveals Nano’s already well-known ties with the left in Greece. By exploiting the Nano case, Alavanos once again raises the issue of the Greek minority, an issue that is well known not to exist. Thus, consequently, anyone who knows how well the rights of the Greek minority shine in Albania can draw the analogy: the rights of the members of the minority were violated to exactly the same extent as Nano’s rights were left to shine. In any case, the fact that a Greek representative of the left stands up in Nano’s defense and does not forget to mention the rights of minorities in Albania once again shows what kind of compromise exists between these figures.

On Tuesday afternoon, at the headquarters of the ADP, its chairman, Mr. Eduard Selami, received Mr. Shvartz, an EDU deputy and member of the German Democratic Party in the German Bundestag. “It is a pleasure,” Mr. Eduard Selami emphasized at the beginning of the meeting, “to meet once again with a friend of Albania and a supporter of Albania’s new democracy.” Mr. Selami then gave a brief overview of the political and economic situation in Albania, highlighting the achievements and difficulties of society’s transition. Of particular importance, Mr. Selami stressed, is the assistance of the EC and other international bodies; in this context, he emphasized Germany’s support for the democratic processes in Albania. “I congratulate you,” Mr. Shvartz said as he took the floor, “on your achievements. This is felt not only here, in the country, but also in Albania’s growing reputation on the international stage. Western policy,” Mr. Shvartz continued, “is interested in supporting the new democracy in the countries of Eastern Europe.” Among other matters, Mr. Shvartz also asked about the structure and functioning of the ADP. Mr. Selami briefed him on, and praised, the experience gained from the parties of Western democracies. Both interlocutors expressed their views on the situation and crisis in the Balkan region. Albania’s policy of peace in the region was praised; it has rightly been regarded as a factor of stability. Preventing the danger of war from spreading to the south of the former Yugoslavia was a shared concern. In this context, a more active and fruitful political role was called for from the European Community and other international bodies. The conversation, which took place in a spirit of mutual understanding, lasted about an hour. Press and Information Office of the ADP

Yesterday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Alfred Serreqi received Mr. Schwartz, a CDU deputy and member of the German Christian Democratic Party in the German Bundestag. [The minister] said that it should be helped in every respect, emphasizing that a strong Albania, economically and politically, would help greatly more...

Ajdin Sejdisë’s enclosure has been breached!! At last, the iron fence around Ajdin Sejdisë’s site has also been breached. This is evidenced by the many kiosks which, in a square formation, have encircled the 60,000-cubic-metre mound. It is said that, by a decision of the Council of Ministers, the enclosure around this pit was transferred to the administration of the Ministry of Tourism, but apparently the Ministry agrees to let this enclosure of metal panels be stolen and carried off. It is not known whether it displays this [unclear] out of spite toward Ajdin Sejdisë; the fact is, however, that today any citizen can take the panels freely without anyone bothering them! The hurried installation of the kiosks also tells us something else. Ajdin Sejdisë’s pit will continue to remain a “pit” in the middle of Tirana for a long time yet.

With a special commission organized by the Tirana Municipality, in cooperation with the police, the demolition of unauthorized constructions began. So far, homes built without permits in Kodër-Kamëz and at the Germans’ villa have been targeted for demolition. The priest [unclear] that this demolition be followed by [demolition] at the Avllandon field, etc. (Continued on p. 13)

Yesterday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Alfred Serreqi received the CDU member of parliament, from the German Christian Democratic Party in the German Bundestag, Mr. Sehwartz (Shvarc). received the CDU member of parliament, from the German Christian Democratic Party in the German Bundestag, Mr. Sehwartz (Shvarc). The meeting was very productive and open. Views were exchanged on the period of transition in Albania and on developments in the Balkans and Bosnia. Mr. Schwartz praised Albania as a factor of stability in the Balkans and that an economically and politically strong Albania would contribute far more effectively to solving problems. At the meeting there was complete agreement in assessing the crisis as a real danger not only for the region, but also for all of Europe and beyond, putting all international institutions to the test. This is not a war in Bosnia, or in one part of the former Yugoslavia, but a profound crisis that demonstrates the inadequacy and weakness of the efforts of the international community and its profound lack of understanding of the problems that emerge during the post-communist transition.

Work on the construction of the first phase (Tirana–Vorë) of the new Tirana–Durrës road is expected to begin in October this year. To this end, the Albanian government has also allocated the funds required for the first 5 kilometres. Construction of this road, which will significantly improve transport infrastructure, will proceed in stages, depending also on the availability of funds. It will be built alongside the existing road; together, the two will reach a width of nearly 19 metres, thus meeting European standards for a highway carrying vehicles at speeds of 80 to 100 km per hour. For the construction of this road, as well as for the supervision of the works, in response to the tender announced by the Ministry of Transport and Communications, ... (?) firms have registered today: 19 Albanian firms, as well as foreign firms from Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Italy, Kuwait, etc. The submitted bids will be evaluated by 15 September, while work is expected to begin in October. (ATSH)

After being warned several times that, under the regulations, his correspondence from prison was not permitted, and because he continued to violate this part of the regulations, Fatos Nano was “punished” by being denied contact with the outside world for 10 days. Nano’s latest illegal letter was “caught” a few days ago. Nano promised that he would no longer break the rules, but once again tried to smuggle out a letter “filled with instructions.” The letter, strangely, looks as if it were written by an illiterate person, and the slang used could be mistaken for street jargon. It was whispered around that Tosi had wanted to adapt himself to a certain class. The letter begins: “Dear Kombinat brothers!” It is not known whom Tosi means, because those he calls “Kombinat brothers” were among the first to make the Nano government go up in smoke. Further on, the chairman of the PS writes: “My anger and strength have faded,” and explains that his health is very good. That Tosi is well is also shown by his swollen, bald head in the photograph of him taken after he came out of prison. It is strange, then, that “ZP” talks about Tosi being treated inhumanely when he himself feels well in his cell. Tosi writes that his anger has also been sold off. This contradicts his “tolerant” nature. Indeed, in one of the letters published in “ZP,” Tosi appears not merely in the role of Jesus himself when he says: “Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do.” In this regard, in Tosi’s pious writing—which he wants to display from time to time—the letter contains a phrase that reads: “...we do not expect release from Sala, nor from Allah.” So Tosi apparently has no faith in Allah, no faith in the justice of God, despite how he tries to present himself to the wider public. Surely he and his friends worship Satan, just as they worshipped Enver, his emissary on earth. As for Tosi’s “anger,” he would do well to protect his bald head, because if he tries to bang it against a wall, it will not end well for him. He should be sure that the wall will prove stronger. Being very popular, Tosi, after greeting those attending the rally and calling them “good and strong,” writes: “...there are good lads in here too (meaning: like you),” and further on, apparently pleased that he has made contact with them, continues: “they’ve started opening the game with the guards present...” Tosi could not find a more suitable place to recruit new members for the PS; this also makes his role as chairman more acceptable and convincing. It is striking that every word in the letter ends with an exclamation mark! It is not known whether Tosi was surprised by every word he wrote, or whether that was the limit of his knowledge of the language. Finally, we would ask the prison administration not only to read letters like these from Tosi, but also to publish them in newspapers. Especially since the administration does not allow it, we would advise them to have his brave writers write the letters for him. EDI PALOKA

Today, more than ever, being and feeling Albanian, respecting one another, loving the homeland, and having Albanian pride have become matters of the day. For 50 years, the red dictatorship worked to make us hate one another through class warfare, and to make us fear one another as people who might be from the Sigurimi. It impoverished us to such a degree that we became ashamed, and lost our customs of generosity and hospitality. It tried to diminish us as people and as Albanians. For 50 years they wore themselves out weaving tales of “communism” and brought Albania to the brink of the abyss, so that we could not even be compared with the poor countries of Africa. For 50 years they forgot Kosovo and Çamëria, and made history as they themselves wanted, starting in 1941, even though we are one of the oldest peoples in the Balkans. We tied ourselves to the Russians and the Chinese, although we were at the heart of Europe. They wept over the troubles of the whole world, although they themselves had become objects of pity. They declared war on the whole world while we stood on the brink of chronic hunger. They trumpeted one success and victory after another while the country was going downhill. But what are their successors doing today? Accustomed to having total power over the people, now that they have lost it, they have become like beasts and are seeking, at any cost, to destabilize the situation in the country. And this serves no one except themselves and the chauvinists. All Albanians are working to build national reconciliation, but not without making those who divided the nation answer for it. Let us get used to bloodshed—they caused it in April in Shkodër. The verses of the song will not leave my mind (Continued on page 3)