— Press conference by DP Chairman Mr. Eduard Selami Yesterday at 11:00 a.m., at the International Press Center, near the Palace of Congresses in Tirana, Mr. Eduard Selami held a press conference on the occasion of the conclusion of the Second National Congress of the DP. Mr. Selami was accompanied by the DP Secretary General, Mr. Tomor Dosti, and the head of the DP press and information office, Mr. Lorenc Ligori. At the beginning of the press conference, Mr. Eduard Selami called the Second National Congress of the DP a success for the DP and its program, a qualitative step toward organizing and structuring the DP, in terms of continuing reform and promoting democracy in Albania. But undoubtedly the most important issue at this Congress was the political aspect. I think that in this respect, too, the Second DP Congress was a success, an affirmation of human values, of the protection and development of human freedoms, of building a state governed by the rule of law, and of accelerating reform—all of which are at the heart of our electoral program. Through free debate, which is natural in the DP, the Congress adopted a resolution expressing support for the DP program. The DP will remain so in the future as well: Albania’s greatest anti-communist force and, at the same time, the leading force in democratic processes in Albania. I would particularly commend the realistic spirit that characterized the Second DP Congress, because it was not simply an affirmation of achievements, but also an honest and competent presentation of the problems that concern our society at this time. Politically, I would single out as a success of the Congress its decisive rejection of the tendency to push the DP toward the far right. I think this was a consolidation of the DP’s values as a center-right party and, at the same time, I believe it was a political victory, considering that symptoms of this kind have affected almost all parties across our political spectrum in the former communist countries. During the press conference, Mr. Eduard Selami then answered journalists’ questions. Asked by a journalist from «Aleança Demokratike» about an interview recently given by Mr. K. Kalakula, in which he said that his departure from the DP parliamentary group would be followed by other MPs, Mr. Eduard Selami replied: «It is true; that is what Kakalula said. I saw it in your newspaper with surprise, because our far left and our far right are cooperating with each other; that is normal in politics. In reality, nobody from the DP followed Kakalula. Only Baleta went with him, and he is not a member of the DP, but a DP MP. I think the other MPs will not follow Kakalula. There is political immorality on the part of two MPs, because if they signed up to serve as MPs for the DP, they cannot demand changes to the fundamental elements of the program that they presented to their electorate. I am convinced that their electorate did not vote for them, but for the platform. If they wish, they should give up their mandates and go and see how they fare in a direct election, rather than entering parliament on the DP program and then working against it. Asked about left-wing extremism, Mr. Selami said that in our country the far left is much more dangerous and more organized than the far right. Right-wing extremists, although dangerous to democracy in Albania, do not currently have the strength of the “left” extreme. There are people who were in the PPSH, ordinary people who committed no crimes and have no sins; they have been and will be part of the DP. This is because the DP has been a broad-based party, not just a party of those who were persecuted or of those who founded it, but also of many other social strata. This is also shown by the fact that we have such a broad electorate—over 60 percent. «Honest people who come to us are always welcome in the DP» was Mr. Selami’s answer regarding admissions to the ranks of the PDSH. Asked about the role of the Albanian factor today, in Kosovo and beyond, he replied: The Albanian factor must be considered a real factor, because there can be no just solution in the region without resolving the Albanian question—not only regarding its territories in Yugoslavia, but also as a nation as a whole. In reply to a question about corruption, he said that we adhere to the well-known position that corruption has no color, whether yesterday or today. As for Ilir Hoti, he has never been a member of the DP. But you in the PS are trying so hard to foist him on us...! Our concept of national reconciliation is that it is a natural process that will take place alongside the establishment of democracy. Asked how the DP was preparing for the 1996 elections, Mr. Selami replied: We must start thinking now about the next elections, putting an end to any hope among those who are calling for early elections. At the same time, we are also making clear our objective of preparing for the next elections in 1996. The best preparation is to implement those parts of the program that have not yet been carried out, deepen economic reform, and advance Albania’s economic and social growth and development. Organizationally, we are trying to correct some of the mistakes made by certain parties in Eastern Europe. Prepared by: MUJE BUÇPAPAJ 1

8 DECEMBER: THE BEGINNING OF THE STUDENT MOVEMENT. - 12 DECEMBER: THE FOUNDING OF THE DP - FOUR DAYS THAT CHANGED HISTORY. - We are in December ’93; only three years have passed, yet it seems as though December ’90 is turning into legend, while the December students are becoming mythical figures, vague and abstract. And that is not all... We must remember, but we must not allow it to become a legend. It was us who did it... not abstract figures. With the shamelessness that only loathsome swindlers and vile fabricators can show, there are people today who dare tell us that it was they—R. Alia, with his criminals and lackeys—who brought democracy to Albania. Others, more “moderate,” say they allowed us to bring democracy, as if we would not have wanted it without them... That is why we must remember and not forget. Remember the rows of policemen and sampists standing face to face with us; remember the school of the mouth that threatened us in the ribs; remember... Four rows of police, with troops of sampists, stood in front of the students on Elbasan Road, by the swimming pool near the Artistic Lyceum. Other rows of police had blocked the road farther down, by the shops, and above, near the former Italian Embassy. Nearly 3,000 dormitory students, Tirana students, and others living nearby were “trapped” in a snare, and yet fear was nowhere to be found... around the “snare.” Someone who was then the first secretary of the BRPSH tried to persuade the students to leave, saying their “economic” demands were being manipulated, but the only response he got was the students’ jeers. For hours, the chants continued: «Freedom, democracy», «We are peaceful, we do not want violence». «The soldiers are our brothers», «The police are with ...». «The intentions of those facing us were not peaceful.» The intentions of those facing us were not peaceful. ... a glimpse into the black archive. They prepared the prisons, the killings in the dark, and it never even crossed their minds to “give us democracy.” Then the anger erupted more fiercely: Oh, enough of slavery, Oh, poor Albania, Oh boys, seize your rifles, Either death or freedom! Three thousand people were electrified and surged forward to break through the police lines. Citizens continued to gather from below. The situation was growing tense. When there was a sudden break, the order came from above. R. Alia’s Politburo had decided to answer our chants, «We are peaceful, we do not want violence», with a furious assault using rubber truncheons and shovel handles. Flight, screams, blood and mud; students lying at the feet of the sampists, who were beating them without mercy. This was the democracy R. Alia gave us. It was 9 December ’90. But those holding Alia’s truncheons could not outnumber or overpower those who opened their homes to protect us. The police who surrounded the Student City could not stop thousands of citizens of Tirana and Albania from joining the students. More than 20,000 people escorted the representatives to R. Alia, to whom it was stated openly that those thousands were waiting for his answer, and that the answer had to be positive—otherwise... And it would be those thousands who would cheer the formation of the Democratic Party on 12 December and, later, fill its ranks. It is us; it is the DP. Therefore, let no one dare to lock up the December of democracy with the names of Alia and Nano. Since they failed to kill December, they are trying to shroud it in the fog of oblivion. But we cannot forget it. December is ours. EDI PALOKA DITOR …to persuade the students to leave, as he received was the students’ jeering. we don’t want violence.” “The military are our brothers,” “The police are with…” But the intentions of those facing us were not peaceful. From the windows of the Lyceum, a camera was recording

Enverism—the current line of the leadership of left-wing extremism A pronounced tendency is that every government undertaking, every decision, every idea, every achievement will face the opposition’s resistance. Not even the nation’s problems can persuade the socialists to abandon their destructiveness. No one has reason to believe otherwise when they remember that the opposition today consists of left-wing extremists and that their doctrine is Enverism. Every government step meets opposition and scrutiny; this is precisely that doctrine. Undoubtedly, even the foreign investment conference held in Tirana some time ago could not escape this “socialist” tradition. They could not regard it as evidence of the government’s serious efforts to match foreign investment with the Albanian reality—a reality that offers what the great economist Keynes defined as the source of enterprise: profit. They could not recognize it as an important step toward giving foreign investors access to liberal Albanian legislation on entrepreneurship, having become aware that Albania’s foreign investment law is among the most liberal compared with other Eastern countries. They could not accept it as a historic event for the Albanian economy, as a starting line for turning these investments into reality. The roughly 300 participants who came to the conference, representatives of world-renowned firms such as Shell, Mobil, Ina, Naftaplin, Chevron, Indelustries, Smelt, Mecallou, Italia, and many others representing foreign investment, are anything but people led by the hand. The active participation of international financial organizations such as the Arab Islamic Bank, the World Bank and the EBRD, and their presentation of programs for Albania, mean nothing to the left-wing extremists. In fact, these extremists, this leadership of left-wing extremism, with Enverism as its guiding line, cannot come to terms with Albania’s opening up to foreign investment. This group presumes the principle of relying on our own forces and isolation, a principle they put into practice well in their efforts. To achieve this aim, they do not hesitate to exaggerate the problems they themselves left behind in order to send a message to potential investors in Albania: do not invest. Although through such actions they expose themselves plainly before public opinion, their twisting of facts cannot last long.

Slovenian President Milan Kucan arrived in Albania yesterday for a two-day visit, during which he is due to sign a cultural and scientific cooperation agreement with President Sali Berisha. An ongoing political dialogue with Albania is of great importance to Slovenia, mainly because of the situation in the former Yugoslavia, and particularly in the Balkans. President Kucan emphasized the similarity between Slovenian and Albanian views on the situation in the Balkans and also on the possibilities for resolving the crisis. «Moreover, it is necessary to exchange views on the participation of both countries in European integration. According to Kucan, Albania is one of the countries with which Slovenia maintains close relations. (ATSH)

The Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Mr. Pjetër Arbnori, received the representative of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in Albania, Mr. Nikola Todorçevski. In his remarks, Mr. Arbnori said: “Albania has always supported friendly relations with Macedonia and the other Balkan states. In this context, we view our relations with neighbouring Macedonia with particular regard. We have stated several times that we firmly support the sovereignty of your country and the inviolability of your borders. We will also never cease to seek the rights of Albanians in Macedonia. Our efforts to secure these human and national rights are based on the principles of the CSCE. We have raised these issues several times in talks with representatives of your republic. The implementation of the Reçka formula for rights does not harm your country, because Albanians are and will be a factor of stability in Macedonia. We have asked for clarification of the population census in your Republic, because conflicting figures concerning the number of Albanians have been brought into question. A fair and honest census would do Macedonia no harm; it would only make it known that these people were considered a constituent element of the state under the previous Constitution, a status they should have again under the Constitution, because this right infringes neither Macedonia’s sovereignty nor its territorial integrity.” Mr. Arbnori then stressed that “in this troubled Balkans, no danger to your country comes from Albania. We believe there are no problems that cannot be resolved through dialogue and a commitment to peace and friendship.” For his part, Mr. Todorçevski expressed confidence that comprehensive relations between our two countries would deepen in the future. Cooperation between the two parliaments, he said, would pave the way for many economic and cultural initiatives that are expected to be carried out. The visit to Albania in the first months of next year by the President of the Macedonian Parliament, Mr. Andov, will certainly contribute to strengthening our relations. Press and Information Office of the People’s Assembly Tirana, 8.12.1993.

Opinions from the Second National Assembly of the DP • Among the delegates to the Second National Assembly of the DP, we tried to put together a series of opinions. • Our set of questions asks what you see as different between the previous Assembly and this second one? • We received the following answers to the three questions below: • I am a student and a representative of the DP branch for students; since the organization was established, I have managed to register and carry it out in a… [partly illegible] 1. Naturally, the DP is not a good word… [partly illegible] Dritan Brod (20 years old) - student: … I see something concerning the criteria for scholarships that should be awarded to students. It is the duty of the Meksi democratic government to set aside a fund as soon as possible to resolve the problem of these scholarships as fairly as possible. Anyway, speaking of other shortcomings, I would say that the DP’s monopoly over the organization of a memorial is unbecoming… (Continued on page 4)

Yesterday afternoon at the Democratic Party headquarters, PDSH Chairman Mr. Eduart Selami received Ms. Jane Hall, Director for European Political and Security Affairs at the White House in the USA. On behalf of the PDSH, Mr. Eduart Selami thanked the USA for the assistance it has given and continues to give to democratic processes in Albania. Mr. Selami then outlined the political and economic situation in the country, praising the democratic government of Mr. Meksi. He briefed the guests present on the analyses and conclusions reached at the Second National Congress of the PDSH, as well as on its reorganization and restructuring along the lines of Western parties. Ms. Jane Hall thanked Mr. Selami for the reception and for his kind remarks about the USA. She congratulated the party on the results of the reforms and on the growth and maturity the PDSH is attaining. Among other things, Ms. Hall expressed interest in… (Continued on page 4)