The Third Conference of the PD Branch of the Lushnjë district held its proceedings TODAY, WITHIN THIS YEAR, THE STANDARD OF LIVING IN THE COUNTRYSIDE HAS DOUBLED On Monday, 29 November 1993, the Third Conference of the PD Branch of Lushnjë held its proceedings in the city of Lushnjë. Attending the Conference were the chairman of the Democratic Party of Albania, Mr. Eduard Selami, its Secretary-General, Mr. Tomor Doshti, PD Presidium members Messrs. Tritan Shehu and Azem Hajdari, Kurt Kola and Moisi Miraka, others including Shehu and Çabej, etc. The Conference was opened by Mr. Fre-Haxhia, secretary of the PD branch, who gave the floor to Mr. Kuj-Gjinaj to present the report on behalf of the party branch presidium. It addressed issues relating to the organizational growth of the PD, the improvement of the functioning of its structures, and the many activities faced by the PD during this period. Mr. Gjinaj emphasized that the PD had 240 new members, of whom 70 ha— The greetings were united by the idea of supporting and backing the PD and President Berisha in consolidating democracy in our country. Mr. Eduard Selami spoke at the meeting and, among other things, stressed that recruiting new members into the PD must remain an ongoing task, since they expand the party, increase its support, and strengthen democracy. Mr. Selami condemned nepotism and the confinement of party work to a vicious circle. The PD is a party that works to bring people together; I demand that these criminals be punished under the laws of the rule of law for specific crimes. Mr. Eduard Selami then answered many questions from those present. Asked whether Mr. Kakakula deserved to be among the ranks of the PD, Mr. Selami replied: “Mr. Kakakula’s stance at the Tirana Conference was provocative; nevertheless, whether he remains in the PD depends on his future conduct.” PD Presidium member and Lushnjë MP, Mr. Tritan Shehu, spoke about the possibilities for developing tourism in Lushnjë, referring to Divjakë, which, according to him, had been left in a poor state. He explained that construction of the city’s new maternity hospital would begin in the first quarter of 1994 and that it would be built within the hospital complex, not at the site where work has now begun. Mr. Tomorr Dosti officially informed the delegates that the Ministry of Construction had allocated the necessary funds to build the city’s water supply system. The speaker explained that he was authorized by Minister Ilir Manushi to inform them that, to meet villagers’ needs for drinking water as well, they should immediately submit requests to the city municipality. At the end, the conference elected a new governing council and its presidium. Bardhyl Caco was elected chairman of the PD Branch. Prepared by: MUJE BUÇPAPAJ EDI PALOKA Party. It addressed problems concerning functioning of its structures, and the numerous challenges faced by the PD during this period. Mr. Gjina emphasized the fact that the PD had been established with 240 new branches, 70 of which had members with higher education. It was noted that in the district of Lushnjë, the land had been distributed in accordance with the law, 100 percent. Implementation of this law made it possible for 25 families in Lushnjë to benefit, while other families received land for use. In this way, implementation of the law gained popular support. During 1993 alone, the farmers’ standard of living doubled as a result of privatization and the support given to the farming community, with 236 young people, a figure six times greater than the number of tractors, while over the last six years, in this district, the conferences of the PD, PSD, and PS of Lushnjë of Albania were welcomed. Mr. Kurt Kola, chairman of the Association of the Persecuted of Albania, and Mr. Moisi Mira- were dealt with organizationally, and rash stressed that new memberships in small in capable people, free from favoritism and collective or family nepotism. The chairman of the PD described the party’s ongoing contact with the Association of Former Persecutees and with former owners as very important. He stressed that the Government is preparing the necessary legal framework for distributing shares to former owners and former persecutees. Returning to the issue of extremism, Mr. Selami stressed that left-wing extremism is a danger to Albania. This extremism has been and remains the main danger to our democracy. When I have spoken about right-wing and left-wing extremism, I have never compared how dangerous they are. Left-wing extremism is more dangerous because it is entrenched in the institution of the PS and is represented by people from crime and dictatorship. I will always address it democratically. Left-wing extremism that is free and democratic. Left-wing extremists are morally led and they before them with respect and profound gratitude. The nation did so this for its most precious sons, who sacrificed what they held most dear all the Albanian people, who bore witness to the martyrs—not only as free people, but who, for nearly half a century, did everything possible to shame and destroy Albania, to humiliate curses of those who fought but did not live to see our day. The member of the PD leadership and deputy for Lushnjë, Mr. Tritan Shehu, spoke about the opportunities for developing tourism in Lushnjë, referring to Divjakë, which, he said, has been left in a poor state. city’s water-supply Ilir Manushi to inform them that requests should also be submitted immediately to the city municipality to meet villagers’ needs for drinking water. At the end, the conference elected the new governing council and its leadership. by: MUJE BUÇPAPAJ

At the PAD Assembly Motion of no confidence against N. Ceka Reason: The Belgrade visit The Assembly of the “Democratic Alliance” met in recent days. The Assembly is a kind of congress of this party. The small number of participants at this “meeting” had nothing to do with “controlling” the doors, since entry was almost unrestricted (the newspaper “Aleanca” writes that in the districts people broke down doors to attend PAD meetings), but with the fact that this party’s reputation leaves much to be desired. PAD can now safely be considered a failure. The group of people who broke away at the beginning to form this party had great hopes for the present, and some of them are admitting that these were “lost illusions.” In practice, AD does not function as a party, even though several people whose names were familiar in the PD are active in its leadership. Many, including PAD members themselves, call it a “phantom” party and its leadership a “leadership of refugees,” because it has never managed to bring them together. According to internal sources, among the problems that emerged at this meeting was the submission of a “motion of no confidence” by several leadership members against President Ceka. The reason: the PAD delegation’s visit to Belgrade. According to the authors of the motion, that visit had further reduced the number of PAD members and supporters. Although some of PAD’s founders, when they left the PD, said that one reason for their dissatisfaction was the lack of democracy within the PD, it seems that in the “new party they have not established ‘full democracy.’” The fact is that the leadership was not consulted about the Belgrade visit, and the objections of some who knew about it were not taken into account. Why? PAD has now become merely a symbol of the disappointment of those who thought that their names alone would be enough to establish a party, and failed to understand that they had borrowed their names from the PD. It seems that some of the activists at the head of PAD have begun to understand this too: at first they declared that they would get 50 percent in the next elections. EDI PALOKA

Ten former Albanian communist leaders, members of the Political Bureau, including former ideologue Foto Çami, will stand trial beginning Friday in Tirana for violating equality among citizens (as 1 ka) by granting themselves various privileges in their daily lives, and could be sentenced to ten years in prison, Radio Tirana reported. This is the first time former communist leaders will be tried in Albania under this article of the Penal Code. The accused are Foto Çami, Besnik Bekteshi, Hajr edin Çeliku, Lenka Çuko, Llambi Gegprifti, Muho Asllani, Pali Miska, Prokop Murra, Qirjako Mihali and Vangjel Çerrava. Their trial, opened in July 1991 on charges of theft and embezzlement of funds, had been suspended for further investigation. Other former members of the Political Bureau, including former president and Communist Party chairman Ramiz Alia, former prime minister Adil Çarçani, former interior ministers Hekuran Isai and Simon Stefani, as well as Manush Myftiu, were removed from the case for trial because of the prolonged investigation opened against them. (ATSH) 14/ 93

BERAT – Residents of Berat have no worries this winter about the supply of firewood. “At the firewood supply points,” director Fatmir Shehu told ATSH, “we have brought in the entire quantity of timber that will be used during the winter.”

SARANDË. — A cultural center will be built in Sarandë, for which an American company has invested 200 thousand dollars free of charge. “These days the municipal council approved the construction site for this cultural center, which will be owned and administered by the Municipality of the city,” Stavri Boçi, deputy mayor of this municipality, told ATSH. “This cultural center will have several recreational and entertainment spaces,”

On the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the founding of Radio Tirana, a commemorative meeting was held on Sunday at ten o’clock in the hall of the National Historical Museum. The ceremony was opened by Mr. Bardhyl Pollo, Director of Radio Tirana, who gave the floor to Mr. Skifter Këlliçi, writer and radio contributor, who in his report presented the complete 55-year history of the radio through authentic facts and documents. The report showed that the founding date of RT is November 28, 1938, and not November 28, 1944, as manipulated by E. Hoxha and the communist regime. At the gathering, their memories were shared by Dionis Bubani, Muzafer Xhaxhiu, Vikore Xhomo, Dhora Leka, Zha-ni Ciko, Behie Çeka, etc., employees and contributors to the radio. Mr. Uran Butka, chairman of the Mass Media Commission in the People’s Assembly, congratulated Radio Tirana on its 55th anniversary. Mr. Skënder Buçpapaj, Director General of RTSH, congratulated the employees and contributors of Radio Tirana, emphasizing RTSH’s readiness to become increasingly a comprehensive means of nationwide information, a role it is fulfilling ever better. At the end, the RTSH symphony orchestra performed a concert under the direction of conductor F. Deda, with singers M. Koci and R. Keraj taking part. «RD» correspondent

This year, Albanians in every corner of the globe celebrated the flag and liberation holidays of November 28–29 with grandeur, as never before. An entire nation took part in the celebrations, including veterans. Only the left-wing extremists and the old guard, in their nostalgia, stood there like wretches, opposing the nation’s efforts and struggles, the efforts and prayers of the liberation movement, and the whole people’s place in the heroic and legendary history of the Albanians—a people whose love of liberation and homeland characterizes us—by moving November 29’s celebration to November 30. The words of Enver Hoxha’s rule, the small group of Enverists, an order, the small group of Enverists, an order, the small group of Enverists, by order, parents and families and figures with feeling, with national feeling. In the December sequences, December 28, one for November 28. In this way we have been at this time, for those on the right, for those on the left, In history and among the ranks of the left-wing extremists drawn to Enver Hoxha, but through their frightening work, the historians’ congratulations, they themselves wrote above all their works, their Albanians, their struggle for a free and democratic Albania. The left-wing extremists have the moral right and they do not change them. It was for the Albanian nation to bow before them with respect and deep gratitude. The nation did this as its heart told it to, without an order, without a decree, without lining up in rows. The nation did this for its dearest sons, who sacrificed what they held most dear and precious for Albania. They deserve the honor of the nation, of all the Albanian people, who not only bore witness to the martyrs, free and in democracy. Their memory will be eternal because they fell for democracy in Albania and for the Albanian people. Those who for nearly half a century did the impossible to shame and destroy Albania, to disgrace it and cast it into the abyss, once again took upon themselves the shame of the nation’s history and the curses of those who fought for the day we would not reach.

Mrs. Bello laughs and cries in «Alternativa SD» about the Albanian Parliament’s designation of November 28 as Albania’s liberation day. According to her, “the new liberation day could bring many misfortunes to Albania, to the point that one day we will say, ‘May it be lost, and a curse on those who set it.’” So Parliament has no right to set the date of liberation on the basis of arguments! One must believe that, according to her, only a group of mafia criminals with Enver Hoxha have this right, because, after all, they are the ones who set it on November 29. And about this date Mrs. Bello neither complains nor says “a curse on it,” neither laughs nor cries. Also in «Alternativa SD», in the same issue, Mr. Keko supports the same idea. According to Mr. Keko, Parliament’s acceptance of November 28, 1944, as Albania’s liberation day was made arbitrarily and only “by taking advantage of the power of the PD’s votes.” Again according to him, “the law adopted by force is destined to return to Parliament, if not today, then tomorrow.” So, at least tomorrow, we will certainly return to November 29 as Albania’s Liberation Day; we will agree with Enver, and why not Miladin and Dushanidhi. Thus, according to Mr. Keko too, the Albanian Parliament, lawfully elected, has no right to decide on the liberation holiday, regardless of what the truth is. This is simply because the majority in it is not made up of communists converted into “socialists,” but of democratic forces. «RD» correspondent

In the Italian capital, Rome, the 4th Meeting of the CSCE Council of Foreign Ministers opens today; our country will be represented by a delegation headed by Foreign Minister Alfred Serreqi. The meeting, which is the most important annual activity of this forum, was preceded by a meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials, which convened in Rome two days ago. In addition to analyzing the situation in the CSCE area, the 4th Meeting is expected to examine several important documents in the field of military security. At the same time, the restructuring of the forum, which began some time ago, eight months earlier, will have an important place at the Rome meeting. Another issue that may be discussed extensively is the effectiveness of the CSCE institutions. The meeting will hand over the one-year presidency of this forum to Italy. (ATSH)

The Democratic Party does not wait for protocols to mark Flag Day and honor those who fell in war. That is why Mr. Selami and Mr. Spahia laid wreaths at the Martyrs’ Cemetery.

The Protocol Office of the Presidency clarifies that political parties were not included in the official state protocol ceremony for the laying of wreaths at the National Martyrs’ Cemetery in Tirana on 28 November 1993. Outside the protocol, tributes may also have been paid by other parties and organizations, at their discretion. The notice published by the newspaper “Zëri i popullit” on 30 November 1993 is inaccurate. The Protocol Office of the Presidency

“LEFT-WING EXTREMISM REMAINS THE MAIN DANGER TO DEMOCRACY IN ALBANIA”