—From the meeting between the DPA and the Italian ambassador, Mr. Foresti— On Thursday, 7 April 1993, representatives of the DPA—namely the chairman of the DPA, Mr. Eduard Selami; Secretary General Mr. Tomorr Dosti; and PD vice-chairman and chairman of the PD parliamentary group, Mr. Ali Spahia—were received for a working meeting by the Italian ambassador to Albania, Mr. Foresti. At the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Ambassador informed his interlocutors of his official and personal commitment to assist and support democratic developments in Albania. For his part, Mr. Selami congratulated Mr. Foresti on his new assignment. “I respect your interest in and goodwill toward Albania’s democratic processes,” Mr. Selami pointed out to the ambassador. Mr. Selami also addressed the economic and political situation in Albania. “The Democratic Party and its government officials,” Mr. Selami continued, “consider Italian aid to Albania to be of particular importance. The members of Operation ‘Pelican’, through their diligence and serious commitment, are already well known and appreciated by our people.” They discussed the further expansion and development of Albanian-Italian relations. Mr. Selami made known the DPA’s desire to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. The ambassador shared this view and assured them that warm and worthy relations would continue. “There are every opportunity,” was the shared view, “to take further steps toward bringing the two peoples closer to one another.” The meeting took place in a warm and friendly atmosphere. PRESS AND INFORMATION OFFICE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY

—A pack of rabid knights of careerism —If they had been given a good position, how would the PAD leaders have acted and spoken? Ever since it became known that the motion supporters would create their own party and entrust its helm to Neritan Ceka, the faint glimmers of hope that a new party might be formed—one that could serve the country and democracy to some small extent—were extinguished as if by a gentle puff. Once this became a fait accompli, that is, when the organizers successfully completed their odyssey, or concentrated campaign, to collect the 300 signatures required for legalization, the announcement carried by the propaganda media attracted interest only among the conservative social-communists, who were eager to expand the anti-PD front. How could anyone view with hope, or trust, a party with a new name but with old leaders or politicians, just as old in age as in mentality, platform, and objectives?... Within the span of a human life, two years is very little, a small segment, but it is ample time to get to know and assess a politician or officeholder. It has now become entirely clear that the founders and leaders of PAD are ready to unfurl and raise any flag, solely to satisfy their unbridled ambitions for careers, power, privileges, and personal and clan benefits. If Neritan Ceka were to become president of Albania (as he and his tutor, Ramiz Alia, wanted), Arben Imami chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Gramoz Pashko prime minister, Perikli Teta minister of defense, and Arben Demeti minister of economic relations with foreign countries or of the Economy and Community, in order to protect and consolidate economic power by clinging to it tooth and nail? Can this politician be trusted when, while on rally platforms he would put himself forward to be sold as an anti-communist, behind the scenes he was bargaining and talking with Ramiz Alia about digging democracy’s grave? Can Gramoz Pashko be trusted, when he has left his signature, seal, and fingerprints on the deeds and disasters of the government of stability, which fully deserved to go down in history as the government of destruction, corruption, and insecurity, which inflicted physical and spiritual wounds on the country that will afflict it for a long time? With his “shock therapy,” he handed the Enverist factions a destructive weapon with which to successfully carry out their scorched-earth strategy. Can Perikli Teta be trusted, who, while still a member and government official of the PD, spent six months in the post of minister of defense and did far less for the democratization, reorganization, and discipline of the army than his non-party successor Alfred Moisiu did in three months? Naturally, those we have mentioned and their comrades no longer deserve to be listened to, tested, or trusted; they have already established themselves as rabid knights of careerism, as burned-out political cards. The childish spite of not having their desire for power fulfilled has driven them to howl and to leave nothing unsaid or undone against the PD, the president, and the prime minister who left them out of the government cabinet. Their spite has so clouded their judgment and signed for careers, for power, privileges, personal and clan benefits. If Neritan Ceka had defence, of the economy and finance... what would have happened, I wonder? Would they have left the PD and attacked it so furiously as declared social-communists? Surely they would have become meek lambs, feeding not only at the PD’s breast; they would have remained satisfied, and in their happiness would have loudly proclaimed that they were not after positions. With the positions they had dreamed of and desired, and the abundance of benefits they brought, it would not have occurred to them, nor would they have had time, to complain, grumble or be dissatisfied. But (fortunately—and may that day never come) they did not achieve their objective and their unprecedented struggle to occupy the beloved seats of power of their first love. But do the PAD leaders have the moral right to seek power again, when they no longer enjoy the people’s respect and trust—those who abused power for six months just like the high-ranking Enverist rulers did for 46 years? Can Neritan Ceka be trusted, when for around 30 years he wrote and declared in lectures and articles that the Epirotes of Northern Epirus and its inhabitants were Illyrian, and then a year ago, after some trips or official visits, suddenly and without thinking contradicted himself and historical and scientific truth by declaring that these were Greek lands and inhabitants?! Can we trust a man who, through his act on 21 February 1991, turned back the people’s flood that would have engulfed the Enverist Bloc, giving it a great historic opportunity? Naturally, the people we have mentioned and their associates no longer deserve to be heard, trusted and believed. They are now established as frenzied knights of careerism; they are burned-out cards. The feminine spite at having their desire for power denied has driven them to wail and leave nothing unsaid or undone against the PD, against of the government cabinet. Their logic has been so clouded by spite and vengeance that they are outdoing even the most extreme socialists in their hostility and aggression toward the PD and the Meksi Government. They do not understand that they are thoroughly exposing themselves through their open—or easily discernible covert—alliance with the conservative social-communists. The facts speak for themselves and need no comment. They have almost never spoken or voted in favour of the positions of the PD parliamentary group, even though, out of hypocrisy and demagoguery, they declare far and wide that they feel even more like allies of the PD. Their cover was completely blown by their stance and vote “against” the law on human freedoms and rights. The socialists exposed them even further, leaving them stranded in the final voting procedure. Although they waged a feverish campaign against the bill, when the moment to vote came they backed down and abstained, while the PAD deputies, who consider themselves great and far-sighted politicians, voted against it?! How should we understand this? Naivety? A forced move? But who lost and who gained from their 4–5 votes? Clearly, their own party lost a great deal. That very day it left everyone gaping with its audacity and shamelessness in declaring itself ready and worthy to take the fate of the country and democracy into its own hands. May that dark day never come!

(Rubke 93) The Red Bosses — Victims of Democracy

—This was the main topic of the meeting held by the Italian Foreign Ministry delegation at Albania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs— From 5 to 8 April 1993, a delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Italian Republic was in our country on a working visit. The delegation consisted of specialists from various branches of the economy who deal with our country’s economic relations with Italy within the framework of the cooperation agreement signed last year. They held a number of meetings at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and at other ministries concerned with implementing the planned projects. The main meeting was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the participation of senior representatives and specialists from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Trade and Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Transport. Italy’s ambassador to Albania, Mr. Paolo Foresti, attended the opening of the meeting and offered greetings. The meeting then continued with a review of all the projects; the main topic was accelerating work on the implementation of economic projects. In this regard, the Italian side gave assurances that work would continue on restructuring the electricity network in Tirana and other cities. They also undertook to facilitate procedures for Tirana’s water network and the Bovilla water supply system. The formalities for delivering food aid worth 13 billion lire are nearing completion. In this context, the Albanian side was informed of a considerable increase in free food aid of 20 billion lire, bringing the total amount of food aid to 33 billion lire. Work on the other cooperation projects also received a significant boost. Both sides decided to institutionalize future meetings to ensure ongoing follow-up of issues relating to cooperation with Italy. (ATSH)

Mr. Rajmond Veber is in Tirana these days on an official visit. The Secretary of

Mr. Rajmond Veber is in Tirana these days on an official visit. official visit. He is the Secretary General for Culture, Art and Sports at the Council of Europe. He has held several working meetings with the Minister of Culture and Education, Mr. Çezar Teliti, and with the Minister of Culture, Arts, Youth and Sports, Mr. Dhimitër Anagnosti. These meetings presented the progress of reform in these fields, the difficulties being encountered, and the tasks that have arisen for the future. At the same time, the need for concrete assistance from the Council of Europe in these fields was raised. For his part, Mr. Veber gave an overview of the Council of Europe’s work and programmes in these fields, and of the possibility of providing technical assistance for further development in culture, the arts and sports. Mr. Veber also met with the heads of cultural, artistic and sports institutions. It is worth noting that at these meetings Mr. Veber listened with interest to the presentations by Mr. Ali Atifi, former head of sports in Kosovo, and journalist Gani Kosumi from the Republic of Kosovo. They presented evidence and facts concerning the repression, crimes and ongoing violence perpetrated by the Serbian administration against culture, art and sports in Kosovo, and asked Mr. Veber, as always, to present these matters to the Council of Europe, as they had heard at this meeting. “RD” CORRESP. 1

These days, Italy’s Minister of Transport and Merchant Marine, Mr. Giancarlo Tesini, arrived in Tirana together with his son, the old friend of the Albanians and President of the Italy-Europe-Albania Association, Prof. Mario Tesini. But what made this visit quite special was that aboard the government aircraft these two personalities were accompanied by a group of Albanians living in Italy, including Fatjon Cara, the Albanian president of the association, Artani, Fabiani, Edvini... And, as befitted the Tesini gentlemen, whose names are closely associated with the awarding of scholarships and the securing of jobs, apartments and sojourn permits for dozens and dozens of Albanians in Villa Palavicini (Bologna) and beyond. The Albanian branch of the Italy-Europe-Albania Association, with the help of the Albanian Youth Federation, organized a meeting on Sunday at the International Center of Culture between members and supporters of the Association and friends from Italy. The “Guest of Honor” was the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Italy to Albania, Mr. Paolo Foresti. Before the meeting, in the presence of dozens and dozens of participants, an exhibition organized by the International Center of Culture was inaugurated, featuring four young talents, students at the Academy of Fine Arts and also members of the Association! Afterwards, a very friendly and warm meeting was held in the Conference Hall, where Mr. Giancarlo Tesini, Mr. Paolo Foresti, Mr. Mario Tesini and Mr. Fatjon Cara spoke and answered questions from the audience. At the end, a classical concert was given by a group of students from the Academy of Fine Arts, members of the Association, who impressed those present with their virtuosity. On Monday, after all the official meetings had been held, up to the highest level, and several agreements of great interest to Albania had been concluded, the Italian-Albanian delegation departed for Italy by plane. ALTIN GOXHA

On Thursday morning, the Turkish Naval Forces destroyer “Yucetepe” departed from the port of Durrës. It participates in and carries out missions as part of NATO’s joint forces in the Mediterranean. Officers from our Naval Combat Fleet also embarked on this Turkish warship. They are the first Albanian officers to have been invited by the Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Forces in Southern Europe to visit the naval forces deployed in the Mediterranean Sea and the ships assigned to military embargo operations. From the Turkish ship, our officers will then transfer to the American ship HAWES and to other NATO ships. (ATSH)

The Albanian People’s League Party supports the PD and the Democratic Government The Steering Committee of the Albanian People’s League Party declares that the economic repercussions inherent in implementing the Reform have revived and reorganized the Workers’ Socialist forces, which, in a united chorus led by the Socialist Party, are trying to obscure every achievement of the democratic state and portray everything as dark, bleak, and without prospects for our people and country. They are doing everything possible, using every means according to the principle “the end justifies the means,” to block the democratic path that has begun, destabilize the country, foster distrust and insecurity, artificially create a government crisis, present themselves as the saviors of the situation and, through the poison they sow, bring about the overthrow of the democratic government and thus take political power back into their own hands. The Steering Committee, taking a proper assessment of the situation, considers it necessary to declare that the Albanian People’s League Party fully supports the Democratic Government and the Democratic Party, as the country’s leading political force, on whose shoulders rests the difficult task—and the historic responsibility—of implementing Economic Reform during this transition period, in order to bring the country out of the profound backwardness left by the communist dictatorship and integrate it into a civilized, modern Europe. ON BEHALF OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE: SECRETARY HASAN HASANI CHAIRMAN K.SH SOTIR TEMO

The newspaper “Rilindja Demokratike” wishes all Christians a happy Resurrection of Christ. HAPPY EASTER.