-Boycotting the Assembly—social-communist Machiavellianism in the service of the red status quo -If it had been TV, they would not have left, but would have voted “abstain” again -They openly allude to “Revolution—a question awaiting resolution” -The PS’s demand for a referendum—an attempt to sow national division- In the interests of truth, and not as a justification, I will begin this introduction to the commentary with the epilogue to the conduct of the Socialist deputies at the day-before-yesterday’s session of the People’s Assembly: At the end of the morning session, after the draft law “On the Return and Compensation of Properties to Former Owners” had been approved in principle by a majority of votes (the Socialists voted against), Mr. Arbnori declared the session closed. As the deputies stood up to leave (some had already left), deputy Dokle asked to speak to explain his group’s “against” vote. Unable to give him the floor at that moment, Mr. Arbnori promised Dokle that he would give him the floor at the start of the afternoon session. That was the entire “reason” the Socialists gave for abandoning the afternoon session. ...But the Machiavellianism in their genes can devise “means” ranging from the most sophisticated to the most absurd and banal to justify their aim—the preservation of the status quo inherited from their Marxist-Leninist forebears. Such was the pretext that, whispering from ear to ear behind the scenes of the Assembly elections, they also concocted this “reason” they gave. Indeed, they might not even have voted “against,” but abstained—again. I still vividly remember their farce over the law on human rights and freedoms... The grand finale of this “spectacle” was precisely the boycott of the Assembly. By taking this step in the face of such a crucial law—a constitutional embodiment of one of the fundamental constitutional principles—we have the right to think more deeply about the true aims of Albania’s social-communists: by voting “against” this law, they leave themselves an alluring path open for their own designs: turning back, a dangerous and unconstitutional act for Albania’s future; they thus reserve for themselves the “right” to later demand the repeal of this draft law—if it is ever made irreversible under the principles of a democratic state. And it is no wonder that, ultimately, their action is an indirect allusion to a Marxist-Leninist-style proletarian revolution... This logical continuation of our argument is fully supported by the Socialists’ “argument” that, with this law, ... ...This truth has precedents, and they are horrific: for 50 consecutive years, former owners were persecuted and even physically eliminated, while the properties and their heirs remain, with their boundaries in the land and in civil cadastral documents. And so, in applying some of the well-known theses of “people’s war”—as a better defense, we launch a Maoist-style attack for equality of this kind, for equal compensation in kind, for the denial of the majority (that is, the red bloc and its ranks) in favor of the minority (in fact, one-third of the population)—there was added a storm of attacks and accusations against the DP and the government, claiming that they were acting hastily and secretly to approve this draft law. First of all, this was a stab in the back and a betrayal on their part, because while Mr. Arbnori, in accordance with the agreement, did not allow a DP speaker to politicize the debate, Servet Pellumbi mounted his horse and mercilessly whipped the “horse” of politicization. Secondly, it was also an outright lie, since everything was done openly and all the deputies, regardless of political color or side, were equally familiar with the revised draft law… We must also mention their absurd demand for a referendum. Apart from its other consequences for reform and the progress of democratic processes, this demand is also an attempt to sow national division, to pit the countryside against the city. …was needed, one… He you… of the state… cemetery… in nx… equality… cation… shk… ysh… efite… ez, as… the Albanians… ter now… m…today… between… squares… imperial… govern… ndhe… road…

-Prime Minister Meksi will attend the inauguration of the Holocaust Museum in Washington on 22 April, dedicated to the Jewish people, who were martyred by Nazism. The Prime Minister told ATSH: “During these days, the Albanian delegation will hold meetings at the US State Department, where a meeting with President Klinton is also planned. On the 21st, he will host a lunch for the heads of delegations. During this visit, discussions will be held with American officials about the possibilities of expanding cooperation between the USA and Albania.”

Albania gained observer status in the North Atlantic Parliamentary Assembly. The member states of NATO and the North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC) belong to this organization. Albania’s cooperation with the NACC, which includes NATO member countries and the countries of Eastern Europe, has recently been very active. Meanwhile, it has significantly intensified its relations with NATO. Obtaining observer status marks a step forward toward gaining associate member status in the North Atlantic Parliamentary Assembly. (ATSH)

The first-class “Naim Frasheri” Order, with the following citation: “Has worked to trace the antiquity of the Albanian language and has made the great values of Albanian culture known in many countries around the world.” Mrs. Nermin Vlora, thanking President Berisha for this great recognition bestowed upon her, said: “I am very happy about this decoration ... I would consider it mine, but I would share it with those other intellectuals who worked for Albanian culture and did not have the good fortune to live, because they were condemned to die before their time. Therefore, I wish to share this beautiful decoration with them, which I had the good fortune and honor to receive from you.” “RD” CORRESPONDENT

- The symposium “The Question of Kosovo and the Albanians in the former Yugoslavia” The Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Albania and the Academy of Sciences and Arts of the Republic of Kosovo organized, on Thursday and Friday, in one of the venues of the Palace of Congresses in Tirana, a symposium on the theme: “The Question of Kosovo and the Albanians in the former Yugoslavia.” At this symposium, whose proceedings lasted two days, academics, doctors, professors, and distinguished historians from the two academies had been invited and took part. The 57 papers, which were addressed in two separate sections according to their subject matter and historical period, emphasized the ethnicity of the Albanians through linguistic, archaeological, historical, cultural, and other evidence. These papers focused on the question of Kosovo as connected with the course of Albanian history in general and inter-Balkan history in particular. The symposium Yugoslavia,” said Dr. Emin Riza in his opening remarks, is being addressed in a new climate, thanks to the profound changes toward democracy in Albania. In terms of the range of subjects and their discussion, this symposium marks an event for our culture; it is a continuation and tribute to the monumental work of the National Renaissance figures and thousands of other national heroes, who sacrificed themselves for the survival and unity of our ethnos; they are a moving and inspiring message of humanity. Dr. Neritan Ceka wrote about the ethnological processes of the Dardanians and Illyrian-Arber integrations, Dr. Skender Anamali about the Dardanian state and the Illyrian state, and academician Idriz Ajeti spoke about Kosovo and the Albanian ethnic territories in the areas of the former Yugoslavia in the early Middle Ages, while academician Idriz Ajeti spoke ... Hajeti spoke about the autochthony of the Albanians of Kosovo in the light of linguistic evidence, etc. In Section B, academician Gazmend Zajmi presented on the question of Kosovo within the framework of the Albanian question as a great and major challenge of the times; Dr. Jusuf Bajraktari on Serbia’s annexation of Kosovo in 1945; Prof. Dr. Kristaq Prifti on the question of national unification in the light of ethnic and historical arguments; Prof. Dr. Hifzi Islami on the democratic problems of Kosovo and other Albanian ethnic territories; Dr. Hakif Bajrami on the forced displacement of Albanians from Kosovo and other territories after the Second World War, etc. (A.T.SH)

This is the Socialist Party’s alternative, precisely at a time when the Democratic Party and the government are seeking and approving the draft law on the return of properties or their compensation. This alternative, as well as the socialists’ boycott of the parliamentary session, reminds us for the umpteenth time that they are the faithful disciples of the PPSH and Enver Hoxha, with new, ludicrous slogans. For in the time of Enver and the PPSH, the slogans were: “Property of all the people.” Thus Albania, its land, factories, plants, and everything else were supposedly the property of the people, at a time when they became a means of enrichment for the leaders of the communist pyramid—that is, for a small, privileged minority that abused, squandered, and stole in the name of the people. A logical continuation of those slogans today is the alternative of Mr. Nano’s party: “Let all Albanians become property owners.” A lovely idea, enough to make your head spin, enough to fool anyone. But how, gentlemen, are all the Albanians of poor Albania to become property owners, when not all Americans, Swedes, English people, or citizens of any wealthy country are property owners?! And how can everyone become an owner without returning properties to those from whom they were seized? Only after this historical injustice has been corrected can the conditions be created for further steps toward expanding private property. On the one hand, we admit that the dictatorship made great mistakes and unjustly seized people’s properties; on the other hand, we say that no new injustices should be committed. But what injustice is done when each person receives what is rightfully theirs, with documents to prove it? Would it not make sense, and be in the PS’s own interest, if it showed goodwill? They could say: let us correct the injustices, and instead of arguing now, let all political forces compel the government, over three, four, or five years, to provide the 6,000 families who have to vacate their homes with living conditions by building new apartments for them. Everyone would have applauded. But no, they never think about those people, only about their own narrow interests, because this approach by the party hierarchy’s leaders will leave the “occupied” property with someone else. And instead of offering goodwill solutions, as the government has done on many occasions regarding this law, they accuse it of all sorts of things; the social democrats chose to boycott it. The Marxist-Leninist Servet Pellumbi spoke on behalf of the group, and that was that. “You are making a decision that we, the successors of the forces that seized these properties, do not agree should be returned to their legitimate owners.” To conceal their undermining aims toward reform and democracy, they come out with the deceptive balloon: “Let all Albanians become property owners.” Yes, gentlemen, they will become owners in a certain sense, because they will receive the homes in which they live (the apartment buildings), but we cannot call a person a genuine property owner merely because they have one or even two rooms and a kitchen. Those are for living in and do not bring that person income. An owner is someone who has land, or other assets that generate income, including several apartments or homes that they rent out. And there is no country in the world, let me repeat, where everyone is an owner, however wealthy that country may be. But just as the rulers deceived people for 50 years with illusions about building socialism, so now they want to confuse people by telling them that they will all become property owners. Distributing state wealth through bonds is one form of ownership, but even if everyone starts out with them, not everyone will be able to succeed, because under capitalism competition is fierce, and after a while not everyone will be an owner. Ultimately, there are people who prefer employment to commerce or ownership. Must we necessarily make them all owners because we have to be equal, since we are building socialism or communism?! In the countryside, too, compensation for the land that will be given to people whose land communism seized does not bring about the “collapse” that the communist-socialists want to portray. It helps people who were martyred for 50 years to enter the free-market system as well. Of course, not everyone will succeed, but at least they are given a helping hand, because a right denied to them for half a century is being restored. But, gentlemen socialists, these worn-out deceptions and tactics can no longer continue. It is very bad that the parties reached a consensus not to broadcast the relevant session on television, because the people would have learned even better who you are. You are the same as you were, and may you remain just as you are: guardians of a system, wearing gloves as a disguise—a system that the whole world rejected as an antihuman and repugnant crime. PETRO DHIMITRI The properties have not disappeared. They are alive, as are the heirs, within their natural boundaries and in civil cadastral documents. …But the Machiavellianism of to the most absurdly banal to justify their aim—preserving the status quo, inherited from their M-L predecessors. Such was the pretext they invented once again, Assembly’s murky elections. In fact, they had shown their hand earlier: when they refused consensus; in their questions addressed to Mr. Manushi during the session, which for the most part clearly displayed a spirit of bias and provocation; and when they insisted on TV’s presence at the session. Their attempt at public political demagoguery and manipulation thus failed. Be assured that, had there been TV, they would not have abandoned the Assembly and would not have… …their genes… The protagonists… and democracy… at the end… the revolution… Leninist… Our logical argument is fully supported by the Socialist “argument” that this law does not provide a final solution to the problem, since many issues remain open… This is, so to speak, a modification of the well-known Enverist slogan, “revolution—a question to be resolved”… Democracy! Beware of such monsters!… And the argument of the (M-L) doctor Servet Pellumbi was laughable, too: he claimed that the former private properties had been used extensively for state needs, to such an extent that their boundaries have now disappeared, and [the text here repeats the preceding article’s passage:] antihuman and repugnant crime. RAKIP SULÇE

ON PROMULGATION Pursuant to Article 28, point 4, of Law No. 7491, dated 29.4.1991, “On the Main Constitutional Provisions” I decree The promulgation of Law No. 7698, dated 15.4.1993, “On the Return and Compensation of Former Owners’ Properties” Tirana, 16.4.1993 Decree No. 515 PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC SALI BERISHA

NATIONAL LIBRARY TIRANA

The Democratic Party and the Editorial Board of the newspaper “Rilindja Demokratike” wish all Orthodox believers of Albania a happy and joyful Easter. With the feeling of faith in one God, together let us call out with all our hearts: CHRIST IS RISEN