Having been invited by the students and as preparations for the Second National Congress of the Democratic Party were drawing to a close, its chairman, Eduard Selami, held an extended meeting with students on Thursday afternoon at their Palace of Culture. “Student City and this hall, from where everything for Albanian democracy began,” Mr. Selami said, “always remind us that we must always be close to one another and open with you.” “Shared events and feelings are what keep us close to one another,” he continued, “and I would like the ranks of the Democratic Party to grow, especially with you; if we want to keep it alive and young.” Afterwards, the chairman of the Democratic Party and his colleagues answered many questions concerning the problems facing university students, economic reform, and the political situation inside and outside the country. Among other things, Mr. Selami informed the students that, on the eve of its Second Congress, 830 more students had joined the ranks of the Democratic Party; he called this a sign of the students’ appreciation and confidence in the Democratic Party as the bearer and realizer of the Student Movement’s aspirations for freedom and democracy.

THE SECOND CONGRESS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY—A CONGRESS OF FREEDOM, PROSPERITY AND THE CONSOLIDATION OF DEMOCRACY Today Albanian democrats open the Second National Congress of the DP with the feelings of fighters for freedom and for its liberation from the harshest dictatorship known to human history on this planet called Earth; from the anxiety and insecurity of life under a cruel and merciless dictatorship; from absurd isolation and fear of hunger, toward emigration and human dignity; from a time of voicelessness and endless gloom into the open space and ascent toward God and freedom. In this sense, this Congress is a moral right to go further in our love of freedom and of people, and a major political occasion to defend the dimensions of freedom and unity against every slander and abuse, against every possibility that could lead to the damage of the ideal and the destruction of the rule of law and the state’s progress; peace and equality, before it, against every possibility of human exclusion, and to raise care and commitment to property and, consequently, to democratic institutions. Today Albanian democrats open the Second National Congress of the DP not only with the experience of fighters against communism, but also with experience building democracy, with a real example of a willingness to keep promises. The DP, in these three years of its existence and these two years since its first Congress, has made real its commitments to freedom and democracy; its promise of land to farmers and freedom for pensioners; its promise of property to owners and freedom of movement to people; its commitment to freedom for the wealthy and to the ideology of poverty; its promise to defend the national cause and integrate Albanians into the world. In the history of a nation, three years may be little, but in the history of building democracy, its state and its institutions, these three years will be remembered by Albanians as the time when they overcame dictatorship and built democracy, the time when Albanians, with Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha at their head, founded the first modern and democratic state and dared to rise to the level of their national, historical and contemporary obligations. These three years will be remembered as the time when Albanians opened a gate toward life, leaving behind the twilight of poverty, misery, dictatorship, isolation, lack of property, homeland and faith. Our history will remember with gratitude these three years of struggle for freedom and democracy and, especially, the martyrs of democracy from every region, the December students and Albanian intellectuals, the workers for freedom who undertook to uproot communism and establish democracy. Today Albanian democrats hold not only a Congress of freedom, but also a Congress of the great obligations before the nation and the Homeland, before democracy. The program of this Congress will examine the national ideal of freedom and human rights, our people’s democratic aspiration for well-being and progress, for advancement to a new level of culture and economy, and for taking our rightful place among the family of European peoples. At this Congress, there will not only be a critical analysis of the period since the DP’s First Congress and the drawing of important conclusions about the DP’s overall activity during the period in which it exercised power; discussions will also address the future of its program and its adaptation to the new circumstances of political and economic developments in the country and abroad. This will ensure that the main lines of Albania’s development and the consolidation of democracy are drawn up in a concrete, realistic and forward-looking spirit. This Congress will reaffirm the soundness of the DP’s program, which over these two years won the approval of most Albanians and the support of most of our people. This is a guarantee that the DP’s Second Congress will remain faithful to the Albanians’ aspirations for freedom and democracy, faithful to democracy and the ideals for which Albanians have striven for centuries: a modern Western-style state, peace and fraternal understanding. Today the Second National Congress of the DP begins its work: a Congress of freedom, prosperity and the consolidation of democracy. Albania will be more worthy at the table of free peoples; the democratic state will be more accomplished in the administration of justice; and people will be richer in their rights to freedom, well-being and prosperity. Men and women, all Albanians, will be more united around their gratitude and their homeland, around their national ideals. Best wishes and success to the Second National Congress of the Democratic Party of Albania!

Interpellation in Parliament with the chairman of the Committee for Political Persecutees, Mr. Eduard Ypi Question: What is the number (in figures) of political prisoners and persecutees eligible for compensation under the law? What is the amount of compensation they will receive? Answer: The Law on the “Status of Former Convicts and Political Persecutees under the Communist System” is the instrument that will provide the final answer to this question. The relevant bodies have been established, and the three-party commission provided for by this law has been put into operation as the sole decision-making body that will recognize the status of each persecuted person. This is only the beginning; there are many obstacles, and it may be necessary to postpone the deadline for collecting documents. According to general estimates based on indirect data, the number of former political persecutees directly or indirectly affected by the PPSH reaches impressive figures, including one third of the Albanian population. Under the criteria set out in the law, only a small proportion of them will receive compensation in property. We cannot yet give a specific figure.

Turkey’s Ambassador to Albania, Mr. Metin Ornekol, answers “RD” For the first time since Albania’s transition to a democratic regime, Turkey’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hikmet Çetin, will officially visit Tirana on 6–7 December 1993. Following the visits to Albania by Turkey’s Prime Minister and President after March 1992, Mr. Hikmet Çetin’s visit will constitute another important stage, further strengthening the very good relations between our two countries. During this visit, the foreign ministers of the two countries will have the opportunity to hold detailed consultations on the development of bilateral relations in every field, based on sound and exemplary foundations, as well as on regional and international issues of interest—

Students from various faculties of Tirana Polytechnic University recently addressed a petition to Prime Minister Meksi seeking solutions to several problems they had raised before as well. “It concerns improving economic and living conditions in Student City, as well as several issues relating to regulations, the curriculum system, the quality of teaching, etc.” On these issues, the students have asked the Prime Minister for a meeting before 7 December. “RD” correspondent

After the statement “I consider it an honor to be a fascist,” it was clear that Mr. Kalakula no longer had a place in the PD. The tragedy of fascism in Albania is still so fresh that the days when one could make a career out of fascism are over; Albania settled accounts with fascism decades ago, as did the entire civilized world, with this offspring of aggressive social disgrace. During the period between his statement and the PD conference in Tirana in November, Mr. Kalakula not only failed to shed the black uniform of his exaggerated imagination, but also put on a disgraceful parade on the platform of the Opera and Ballet Theatre hall, making his position even more pronounced. In this way Kalakula finally outlined the color of his political career: amateurism, attempts to usurp public opinion on certain issues such as large estates, with the [unclear] and the soldiers of capitalism, etc. He is also more ambitious than some others to seize and control power, using slogans borrowed from the old system of revenge and resentment. In this way Kalakula showed that he could not withstand the politics and public arena of the DP’s program. He was caught by words that would not keep him in the DP, but instead put him outside it; he attached himself to interests that could not be resolved within the DP, but in another party. For all these reasons, the DP itself would have removed him from its ranks.

FRESSH’S ACCEPTANCE AS AN OBSERVER IN THE SOCIALIST YOUTH INTERNATIONAL BRINGS THE PS’S FAILURE UNDER NANOS INTO SHARPER FOCUS. Fatos NANOS’S MESSAGE TO HIS “PEERS,” THE EURO-SOCIALISTS. FRESSH, as “ZP” reports, was accepted as an observer in the Socialist Youth International. One understands: for the young people who lead that forum, it is a feat that they managed to convince the civilized world of this community and of its support for their moderate youth. Moderate, at any rate. But there is another side to those young people who rebel against the PS, the young people’s democratic party, and against their own comrades who remain capable of appearing in Europe; those young people, as they are regarded, have a mission in Europe, whether or not they belong to FRESSH. These people will surely seek and strive for this success: “to transform it, to consolidate a success for all socialist youth as a force. But for all young people, as a whole.” In the Socialist International, in this respect, FRESSH’s acceptance as an observer in the Socialist Youth International marked a day of particular significance for Nanos’s PS, revealing the distinction between its extremists and the young people. As I mentioned above, the PS will try to claim credit for the young people’s success, and this aim is clear from the way the “PS chairman,” Fatos Nanos, sends a message from prison to his “peers.” The message is hypocrisy and flattery. “Dear peers,” writes Nanos, who apparently considers himself the one who deserves the credit, as they seek to win the mission. Further on, Fatos Nanos congratulates FRESSH and writes: “...for the great success of everyone...”

After more than two years of effort and tireless work to help Albania and the Albanians, Operation “Pelican” has completed its humanitarian mission and will leave Albania, taking with it the deep gratitude of all Albanians. It is Friday, 3 December. In the presence of Italian Defence Minister Fabio Fabbi, Albanian Prime Minister Aleksandër Meksi, Defence Minister Sabi Zhulali, a large number of ministers and local authorities, and senior military officials, a farewell ceremony for the Italian military forces contingent “Polika[n]” was held at the Durrës Sports Palace. On this occasion, information is being provided about “Pelican’s” activities during its stay in Albania. Operation “Pelican,” which arrived in Albania in March 1991 to help Albania through its transition—

His Excellency Mr. Hikmet Çetin was born in Lice, Diyarbakir, in 1937. After graduating from the Department of Economics and Finance at the Faculty of Political Sciences of Ankara University in 1960, he was appointed assistant specialist at the State Planning Organization. During his work at this organization, he was sent abroad many times for studies related to his position, including to the United States, where he completed specialist studies in the Economic Development program and continued his research at Stanford University in California on PLANNING MODELS. After completing his military service, he was promoted and appointed head of the Economic Planning Department at the State Planning Organization, where he worked in this post until 1977. In the general elections held in 1977, he was elected to Parliament as a deputy for Istanbul from the Republican People’s Party. He served as Minister of State and Deputy Prime Minister in 1978–1979. He was elected to Parliament in the early general elections of 29 November 1987 for the Social Democratic Populist Party and assumed executive responsibilities at various levels in that party, including the post of Secretary-General. In the general elections held on 20 October 1991, he was elected to Parliament for the third time, as a deputy for Gaziantep from the Social Democratic Populist Party. On 20 November 1991, he was appointed to the post he holds today, Minister of Foreign Affairs, in the coalition government formed by His Excellency Mr. Sulejman Demirel. He also held this post in the second DYP-SHP coalition government formed by Mr. Tansu Çiller in November 1992. His Excellency Mr. Çetin is married and has two children. He speaks English.

As it has made a habit of reporting every achievement of the Democratic Government, yesterday the socialist newspaper “ZP” once again tried to obscure the PD’s successes by relating them to the major social problems accumulated in the capital. It is true that in some areas of Tirana there have been interruptions in the electricity supply, even though part of the network has been rebuilt and around 20 billion lire have been spent on it. Indeed, the state has further plans for this. But one cannot help wondering at the author of the article, who claims there is no firewood! Dear journalists of “ZP”! I understand that it is difficult for you to tell the truth, since in your Party you learned to deny everything, but please do not go so far as to deny yourselves. I say this because in that very same issue of the newspaper, where you claim there is no firewood, on page four you have an advertisement saying: “N.K. Fuel offers you firewood”! How are we supposed to understand this mockery of the reader?! Z. LL.

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