CONSISTENCY IN PROGRAM AND TRANSPARENCY – THE BASIS OF THE STRENGTH OF THE DP THE DP IS UNABLE TO ANALYZE ITSELF; IT MUST MOVE FORWARD[?] Berisha at the meeting of the National Council of the Democratic Party yesterday: “It is enough to make a truly liberal and democratic party, to exist and rule in Albania...” At the first meeting of the National Council of the Democratic Party, the President of the Republic, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, delivered a long speech in which he analyzed the eight-month course of democratic government, the DP, and the opposition. On this occasion he called on supporters of the DP government and the opposition to be active, to criticize him and to help him. We publish excerpts from this speech below. According to Mr. Berisha, the changes that have taken place in Albania have been profound and clear. “On the basis of this force, we won the elections of 22 March 1992. Yes, I think that the only Albanian political force that has remained fully faithful to its program is the DP. Anyone who objectively follows political events and developments in Albania over these 3 years can see very clearly that the force that has been able to fulfill, to a very high degree, the promises it made has been the DP. The opposition has been unable to analyze itself, to recognize reality. Therefore, it has no other path but to move forward and understand that all its activity during this time has been nothing more than an adventure.” Berisha further pointed out that the strength of the DP and its government lies in the transparency of its actions. He said that in a democratic system, parties rely on the truth, not on hiding it. “If there is one party that has known how to make its difficulties, successes, problems and corrections public, it is the DP.” He particularly dwelt on the need for debate and for the continuous improvement of the work of the leading structures, stressing that without programmatic consistency and without moral and political transparency, a political force cannot remain credible. “It is enough to make a truly liberal and democratic party, to exist and rule in Albania...” In the rest of his speech, Berisha criticized the opposition for lacking an alternative and for trying to present the crisis as the essence of Albanian political life. He said that the opposition has offered no program, only accusations, and that time has shown its failure. [text from the right-hand column is partial and not fully readable in the photo]

This international seminar will be organized on 4 October in Tirana by the Albanian Ecological Association with the support of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation from Germany. The seminar will be held with the participation of Albanian and foreign specialists, and environmental problems, public awareness, and ways to protect nature will be discussed. SHKODER The government pledges support for development The association “Missionaries of Charity” in Shkodër brought last night, from AISHA, 1,450 kilograms of food aid worth 8,200 dollars. On this occasion, the prefect of the district promised support for the association’s work and for the development of its social projects. ENGLISH: “Raising public awareness for travel[?] and environmental protection.” This international seminar will be organized on 4 October in Tirana by the Albanian Ecological Association with the support of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation from Germany. ITALIANO: “La sensibilizzazione dell’opinione pubblica per il percorso[?] e la protezione dell’ambiente.” Questo seminario internazionale sarà organizzato il 4 ottobre a Tirana dall’Associazione Ecologica Albanese con il sostegno della Fondazione Friedrich Ebert della Germania.

From the archive of P-Pd-los Misinformation with malicious intent in “Alternativa SD” In the newspaper “Alternativa SD”, in yesterday’s issue, 29 September 1993, in the editorial section “Hiding contradictions within the governing coalition?” a false report was published concerning a memorandum addressed to Mr. Berisha and published on the occasion of the presidential elections. That newspaper claims that this material was distributed to the PD Steering Council and that it was the property of MP Spartak Ngjela. This is not true. In the memorandum submitted to the President of the Republic, no objection to Mr. Berisha’s candidacy was set out. On the contrary, the memorandum spoke of the necessity of respecting statutory and constitutional procedures. Likewise, the claim that the document was distributed in an organized way to the leading forums of the PD is also false. This is a slander aimed at creating political confusion and damaging the normal climate of debate. MODI DOC-TRAPA ENGLISH: Deliberate misinformation in “Alternativa SD”. The article denies claims published in the newspaper “Alternativa SD” regarding a memorandum allegedly distributed in Democratic Party leadership bodies and linked to Spartak Ngjela. ITALIANO: Disinformazione deliberata in “Alternativa SD”. L’articolo smentisce le affermazioni pubblicate nel giornale “Alternativa SD” riguardo a un promemoria presumibilmente distribuito negli organi dirigenti del Partito Democratico e collegato a Spartak Ngjela.

From the archive of P-Pd-los The new phase of reform requires new momentum Yesterday, in line with the goals of the first months of governance, it was emphasized that new economic and social developments require faster reform rhythms. It was noted that the transformations undertaken have brought positive results, but greater institutional efficiency and stronger involvement of local structures are needed. Within this framework, the need to reorganize the administration, increase public accountability, and strengthen anti-corruption controls was discussed. Reform, according to the speech, should not remain only economic, but also moral and administrative. It was also stressed that citizens expect concrete solutions and that the pace of reform must become more tangible in everyday life. Korresp. [?]

12 teachers persecuted by the dictatorship decorated DURRËS. On Monday afternoon, in the old hall of the public library, a ceremony organized by the Independent Education Union was held on the occasion of Teachers’ Day, during which 12 teachers persecuted by the dictatorship were decorated. Among them was also the veteran of the national liberation war, teacher Hysni Çela (posthumously), as well as the martyr of democracy, the well-known professor Selim Murrja. The decorations were handed over by the mayor of Durrës, Hajrulla Shosha. Aleksandër Meksi, a member of the leadership of the DP and the Council of Ministers, as well as the prefect of Durrës, Jorgo Karamelo, also took part in this event. [the text of the upper news item about economic cooperation is cut off and only partly readable]

An Albanian refugee drowned in Corfu SANANDE, a few days ago in the late hours of the night, a small vessel carrying 24 Albanian clandestine migrants set off from the shores of Butrint with the hope of reaching Corfu. During the crossing, tragedy struck and one of the young men lost his life in the waters near the island. Local sources said the victim had been identified as A. B.[?], around 20 years old. ENGLISH: An Albanian refugee drowned in Corfu. A small boat carrying 24 Albanian clandestine migrants left the coast of Butrint for Corfu, and one young man died during the crossing. ITALIANO: Un rifugiato albanese annegato a Corfù. Una piccola imbarcazione con 24 migranti clandestini albanesi partì dalla costa di Butrinto verso Corfù, e un giovane morì durante la traversata.