— Greater cooperation among democratic forces — Breaking with the dictatorial regime in Albania was a model of the coexistence of the tolerance and political experience of democratic forces with the concrete political conditions in Eastern Europe. Former Albanian communists did everything possible to retain control over politics and the economy. Meanwhile, the democrats who had emerged from the popular movement and the December ’90 student movement responded to the political elections with a clear political coalition. The DP reached an understanding with the PR, the PSD and the PDK, with the shared aim of defeating communism. After the Government of Stability, two opposing fronts emerged in terms of programs, means of struggle and political convictions. The anti-communist front gathered around the DP, along with several other parties, and also brought together the workers’ unions and former political prisoners. It was this multiparty coordination that brought about the spectacular triumph of 22 March ’92, when the former communists won in only 6 electoral districts and, with class-based votes, reached less than 10 percent. The conservatives were seeking to use their last extreme chances to control power. In the Balkans, the human slaughter by Milošević, Karadžić and Šešelj continues, based on the chauvinist principles of Greater Serbia. In Greece, early elections... Therefore, Albania, a country where communism inflicted terror, genocide, poverty and destruction more than in any other Eastern European country, has the great fortune that its citizens have still not forgotten the terror of the past, although the former communists of N. Hoxha, R. Alia and F. Nano are active in opposing every reform and program of the democratic state. Albania has political stability thanks to the popularity enjoyed by the DP-PR-PSD coalition, thanks to statesmen adapted to reforms, thanks to highly productive parliamentary work within the legislative framework, thanks to the sincerity and successes of Albanian diplomacy, and thanks to the justice system, which is stopping many of those who, once in power, tore this country apart and robbed it. [Beginning of article missing] gathered around the PD, along with several other parties, It was this multipolitical harmony and, with the party-list votes, secured fewer than 40 deputies out of the 140 in the entire parliament. The Democratic Coalition’s victory was reflected in the new cabinet and in the new appointments to the state administration. The coalition, founded on sincere cooperation and free of political backtracking and dealings, was reflected again on 26 July in the local elections, albeit this time with less publicity and greater incisiveness. Nevertheless, the communists were once again defeated by the voters. For most of its time in power, the Democratic Coalition adhered to the sound principles of cooperation for the national progress and responsibility that Albanians had dreamed of. In government, this coalition extended its cooperation even to the smallest details of the economic and social program. The representatives of the PR and PSD had the opportunity to represent their alternatives with dignity, along with their intellectual strength and professional expertise. And in fact, in three months it did not become a source of disagreement between the coalition parties; on the contrary: this successful two-year experience creates and calls for the possibility of expanding the Democratic Coalition. ... the former communists took advantage of the difficulties of bringing the country into reform and of disagreements among the democratic forces in order to dominate the elections. Thus, after four years in power for the democratic forces, Les Valesa is forced to bless a government of a former-communist coalition, with a program opposed to the development of economic and social growth. The communists’ return to power in Poland and elsewhere shows that the struggle to establish democracy is long and difficult, marked by pain and misunderstandings; that democratic forces failed to cooperate in harmony to convince their peoples that the reforms undertaken mean renewal, and that communism is cannibalistic and destructive. There is talk of a coup in Russia. In this period of «crisis», or at moments of heightened tension, the former communists of the PS proclaimed the end of power-sharing within the coalition of democratic forces. It was precisely in this «vacuum» among the democratic political forces that the former communists took to the streets in rallies, threatened to smash skulls, attempted to provoke civil bloodshed at the Tirana rally, and drew up lists of politicians and journalists to be punished... It was precisely in this time of heat and darkness that they tried by every means to gain what in no way belonged to them: the right to govern the government, and the rejection of Albania’s admission to the Council of Europe. They failed at the first, while in the second they earned shame! These days, in Solidarity’s Poland, the former communists took advantage of the difficulties of introducing reforms in the country and that communism is cannibalistic and destructive. We are a country where the main party in power, the PD, has a genuine electoral mandate and great intellectual capacity; where power is more legitimate and treats citizens fairly; and where the head of state initiated the most humane law of human development, the one concerning human rights. But the PD must feel a greater political, national and historical responsibility to play a more effective role in the coalition with all those anti-communist forces that have proved they love Albania and democracy and are ready to contribute to them. The Democratic Coalition must expand and cooperate more in order to make good on the promise made to millions of Albanians: – Never again communism! The mission of the former communists grouped in extreme-left parties has failed, as long as the democratic forces in Albania value and recognize the historical responsibility and merit resting on their shoulders. This is the time of democracy. The time of those—of the former communists, faithless and without dignity or national pride—is over once and for all in democratic Albania. A. K

On 21 September, the 23rd meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe opened in Prague. During the first day’s proceedings, the Yugoslav crisis was an important issue, and the situation in Kosovo was also discussed at length. The head of the Albanian delegation, Lisen Bashkurti, speaking at the meeting, emphasized the grave situation and expressed regret that it persists in Kosovo following the departure of the long-term CSCE missions, whose mandate extension was rejected by the Serbian authorities as a result of the intensification of repressive measures. The position of our country on resolving the Kosovo issue was also reiterated. Regarding the International Committee’s position toward Serbia and Montenegro, Mr. Bashkurti emphasized that it is linked to the fulfilment of certain commitments in highly sensitive areas, such as arms-control arrangements, stabilizing measures or regional military stability, etc., which are vital for a number of other countries. At yesterday’s session on the second day of the 23rd CSCE meeting, the High Commissioner on National Minorities, Mr. Van Der Stoel, presented information on his visits to Estonia, Romania and Albania. He thanked Albania’s Foreign Minister for the letter addressed to him, which was included as a document of the CSO. The representative of the Albanian multilateral mission in Vienna, Mr. Zef Mazi, speaking on behalf of the Albanian delegation, once again thanked the Commissioner for his visit and highlighted the points in Minister Sërregi’s letter concerning our commitment to respect all the rights recognized by international instruments for national minorities, also setting out the Albanian government’s policy on these issues. The meeting then moved to item three on the agenda, concerning Macedonia’s request to join the CSCE. Mr. Bashkurti, taking the floor, first noted that Albania was among the first to recognize the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as a state, understanding and supporting it as a factor for stability in the region and for normal functioning in international relations. He then outlined the situation of the Albanians in Macedonia and their legitimate demands, which remain unmet, and reiterated the Albanian government’s full willingness to begin a process of cooperation with the authorities in Skopje until the repeated demands of the Albanians are fulfilled. The delegations that spoke afterward expressed support for Macedonia’s admission, while Greece... [?]

At the invitation of the Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Hungary, Janosh Shabo, a delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Albania, headed by Minister Hasan Halili, visited Hungary from 20 to 24 September. During talks between the two ministers on Tuesday afternoon, they discussed matters in concrete terms and agreed that Albanian-Hungarian relations in agriculture should develop in both the economic-financial and technical-scientific fields. “In particular, it was agreed with the fish-farming enterprise TFHAC that the latter would help modernize fish-farming technology in Albania, train Albanian specialists, and supply materials in this field that are lacking in our country, etc. Talks on the concrete development and expansion of cooperation were also held with representatives of the well-known firm Babolna Teira. It was agreed that this enterprise would be offered the opportunity to establish joint ventures with several poultry-farming centers in Albania. The Albanian delegation also held fruitful talks with the managers of major enterprises and well-known institutions, such as in Sinok, Godollo, etc. At the conclusion of the visit, Albania’s Minister Hasan Halili and his Hungarian counterpart Ja- Janosh Shabo signed a memorandum of cooperation in agriculture. (ATSH)

From 19 to 21 September 1993, the 6th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Standing Committee of the Conference of the Islamic Organization for Scientific and Technological Cooperation was held in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. For the first time, a delegation from our country also took part in such a meeting, headed by the chairman of the Committee for Science and Technology, Maksim Konomi. During the days of the meeting, our delegation held meetings with many delegations from other countries that are members of the Islamic Conference, with whom views were exchanged on issues of cooperation in the field of science.

“Fatos’s Volunteers” commit acts of banditry. That day in July of this year, everyone was surprised to learn that Fatos Nano, who was expected to be arrested for corruption, had left for Germany as part of a parliamentary delegation. That day in Albania there was also a particular person, whom ... ghosts, including a Romanian, known as 1 226-a, dispersed for the translation. They did ... lives in a house where he ... “If ... then ...” It appeared that as a reaction to ... Thinking that we should not prolong the matter any further, and trusting in democracy and its laws, we did not officially report it to the police; but it seems that Nano took our restraint for fear. Now, as regards this July episode, let us turn to September, specifically the 14th of this month, when at the door of the house where Nano stays, we spoke civilly with Fatos’s driver (there was also the bl... ), putting forward two alternatives: ... our ... for the possibility of ... the houses until the end of ... (Continued on page 6)

A reminder for those who have ... for Nano’s release - The declaration for Nano’s release is in fact a commitment by those who sign it to pay the 9 million «missing» dollars. The amount will be deducted from pensioners’ pensions. - Each signatory is expected to pay at least 100 US dollars. As is known, the leadership of the PS has [unclear] courts can convict the guilty person [unclear] various people, who go around collecting signatures «for the release of Chairman Nano». «ZP» periodically reports the number of people who sign. The sheets given to pensioners to sign have nothing written on them, meaning that those who sign put their names on a blank sheet of paper. In recent days it became known that Nano’s supporters are in fact signing a declaration in which they undertake to give a certain amount from their pensions or salaries until the 9 million dollars are made up—the repayment of which Nano is accused of owing. It is unclear whether those who sign are aware of the commitment they are taking on, but a recent incident in a village in Krujë makes one doubt it. Two people who had signed for Nano’s release found out the above and leapt up in indignation, saying that if it was a matter of paying, they had no reason to pay, since they had done nothing for themselves. «Let the PS leadership pay; they have plenty of money». What I have written may be a joke, but who can guarantee that it is not also true?!... In no country in the world is there any rule or law whereby petition signatories become liable for a penalty. What does exist, in fact, is the payment of a fine in money, that is ... ... the number of people who have signed the petition has reached 700,000. All are over 18 years old. In practice, it follows (even according to Dokle’s calculations) that 84.4 percent of Albanians voted for Nano’s release. This is not to blame Dokle for his limited knowledge of the exact sciences, but I am notifying him that, according to the figures he has produced, at least 10 times the members of the PS must have voted for the petition, or signatures must have been taken from members of (real) Marxist parties from Tierra del Fuego to Honolulu. It is not known which legal body Dokle used to verify the authenticity of the signatures. In any case, verifying 700,000 signatures would be extremely difficult for any kind of body. EDI PAKAJ

Statement by the employees of the “Demokracia” printing house We publicly declare that we, the employees of the “Demokracia” printing house, given that one of our main demands—the removal of Mr. P. Dhimitri as its director—has been achieved with his arrest, and also because the strike has been used continuously by certain political forces for their own interests, agree to resume work immediately. We await a solution from IMF, the owner of this printing house. The collective of the “DEMOKRACIA” printing house Tirana, 25 September 1993

Summary of the report of the State Control Service, May 1992–June 1993, delivered by Mr. Berisha in Parliament on 23 September 1993.