EDUART SELAMI With its determination to build a state governed by the rule of law on the human principles of pure social morality, the Democratic Party has fought and will continue to fight corruption to the very end. The interpellation requested in parliament, too, was a consequence of the DP’s program, forcefully articulated during the election campaign and reiterated after it came to power. The victory of 22 March gave us the practical opportunity to separate the new state governed by law from the communist mafia. The DP and its government are determined to act against the mafia and corruption, making no concessions to these representatives of social terror, who were interested only in a democratic façade through which to govern and command using new means. The exposure of communist corruption, now known through the aid affair, or the Nano affair, is only a part of the iceberg of communist crime. PP(S) was raised on a bed of the blood and bones of the Albanian people, built by a group of criminals who, more than governing this country, massacred it. It must be said that today one is greatly struck by the almost absurd defense of E. Nano by the leaders of the PS. The last heir of the Bolshevik terrain, E. Nano, is thus publicly presented as a representative of failed communist agitation, and his staff of ... [?] of the Albanian people reveals the essence of an entire system built on the principles of theft and corruption, which the Albanians overthrew on 22 March. It is therefore entirely normal and democratic behavior for the healthy and honest part of the PS, which aspires to a European democratic socialism, to separate itself from crime and corruption, from the thieves and criminals inherited from the mother party. In this way, this honest Eurosocialist wing will show that it is breaking away from those who destroyed Albania, displaying a barbaric anti-Albanian attitude steeped in moral degeneration and material corruption. This was also one of the reasons why we, as the DP, refused to form a governing coalition with these owners of gigantic corruption. For a coalition government would have meant transferring communist structures into the body of the rule-of-law state. In other words, it would have meant perpetuating communist corruption and crime. It must also be said that the resistance to exposing this corruption by the conservative social-communist group fully demonstrates the chaos within this party, and its fear that the chain reaction of events will expose the true face of the communist mafia, whose roots are undoubtedly deep. The Democratic Party is determined to expose and punish corruption. It will never allow Albanians to become its victims. In this way, when we react energetically against the corrupt mafia, we address a concern of the people, a social problem they have raised for a long time. Thus, in our efforts to condemn this corruption, we have only their blessing. “One hand washes the other; both ... [?] the face.” - Only the PK-PP-PS have set Albanians against Albanians for 50 years. - Stoking a parliamentary crisis is Fatos Nano’s last chance to escape deserved punishment and a shameful end. - Firm and just punishment of red corruption—a major test for the Meksi government, the DP, and democracy. of the PS. The last heir of the Bolshevik line, F. communist agitation, and his confused staff as an archaic collection of Enver’s volunteers. The pathological obsession with defending the theft of 9 million dollars, which passed through the hands of Alia, Çarçani, Nano, shows that this is only the beginning of the thefts and frauds committed by the communists during their 50 years of rule. The very fact that, at the most difficult time for the people, while welcoming the above drama, they were preoccupied with such calculations, like expert thieves at the people’s expense

So far, two shipments have been brought in, worth a total of 5,508,605 thousand lire, and 1,000 tons of rice worth 1,072,700 thousand lire are expected to arrive. The remaining 3.5 billion lire, needed to complete the 10 billion lire allocated, consists of one shipment of powdered milk and one of medicines. In handling this aid, alongside the progress made, several problems and uncertainties have emerged for which, despite the efforts made, an effective solution has not yet been achieved to the necessary extent. The main concern has been the very high price of the goods delivered. The invoices received later show that they were valued at retail prices, with other expenses added on top. Thus, the price charged for 1 ton of chicken flour preserved with gelatin was 12,165 thousand lire; 1 ton of tuna preserved in olive oil, 7,850 thousand lire; 1 ton of marmalade, 4,500 thousand lire, etc. In general, the goods delivered have not represented our most urgent needs; and, given the urgency with which this aid was arranged, goods that did not constitute essential needs were also delivered, such as juice, tuna, and perhaps fruit juice as well. The high price level has been affected not only by the fact that these goods are expensive on the Italian market itself, but also by their packaging in very small portions, such as fish in 80 g tins, fruit juice in 125 ml bottles, chicken soup in 205 g tins, etc. This packaging was also unnecessary for our intended use, since the goods were used for cooking in communal canteens. These shortcomings and uncertainties were caused by the fact that, at the outset of the agreement with the Italian side, the political aspect of the aid was not coordinated with its technical and commercial aspects. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which was tasked with putting this aid into concrete form, did not manage to resolve these issues from the beginning. - Thus, even though this aid was arranged under conditions of great urgency, no documentation was drawn up to define the technical and commercial terms that would have enabled us to request adjustments to the relations and mutual obligations during implementation. - We did not appoint any specialized commercial body to enter into relations with “Levante Co” (the company appointed to deliver the goods), either to determine which goods were needed or to make other requests concerning prices, delivery terms, and so on; in this respect, the company may also have acted in its own interests. Despite the requests made, communication with the authorities appointed by the Italian Government to coordinate and give the aid technical form, as well as with the company mentioned above, was extremely difficult. The information our Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which was tasked with providing it, managed to give was completely inadequate. The considerable assistance we received in communicating with some Italians at the center, through whom the aid was arranged, did not extend to the technical issues that concerned us. Only after repeated requests was it possible to correspond with representatives of “Levante Co” and with a group from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs appointed by the Italian Government to handle aid to Albania. Comrade Fatos, Allow me to present to you, in summary, some of the problems that have arisen so far in handling the humanitarian aid given to our country by the Italian Government, as well as the conclusions of the talks held on 19.4.1991 between our group and the group of representatives of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs assigned to deal with this aid, which came to our country and whose delegation at the talks was headed by Mr. Mocareto Kardili. I think this material could be passed on to Comrade Shano Korbeci for consideration in preparing the government agreements between the two countries, in which this aid also has a place. I would appreciate your opinion on how to proceed. Respectfully, [illegible handwritten signature] READ ON PAGE 2

LETTER OF THANKS TO HIS HOLINESS POPE JOHN PAUL II Holy Father! It is a particular honor and pleasure for me to convey to You my deepest gratitude for Your visit to Albania, thereby also expressing the desire of the entire Albanian people. This visit once again showed that You are a sincere friend of the Albanians. It is a great political, moral, and religious support for the entire Albanian nation on its path to freedom and democracy. Its message was one of peace and understanding, of preserving and developing the values of European civilization. This visit brings Albania much closer to Europe and supports its process of integration into the old continent. It opens a new era in the friendly relations between Albania and the Holy See. It was a true day of revival for the Albanian Catholic Church, but also for democracy in Albania, whose values are inseparable from those of religion. Your visit is also a great impetus and encouragement for Albanians to work with dedication for peace, democracy, and interreligious and interethnic understanding in the region. I once again express my love, respect, and deepest gratitude, as well as the wish of all my compatriots: “Health and long life to Your Holiness.” Respectfully, SALI BERISHA Tirana, 29.4.1993