Dear young lady, dear sir! We inform you that on the occasion of the 2nd anniversary of the founding of our newspaper, “Rilindja Demokratike,” the newspaper’s editorial staff will organize, on 11 January 1994, in the hall of the Higher Institute of Arts, a festive concert with the participation of the best-known Albanian singers. You are invited to this concert, together with your family members. Invitations will be distributed at the editorial office from 10:00 to 13:00 on 8, 9 and 10 January 1994. Happy second anniversary of the newspaper “Rilindja Demokratike”! Albania’s relations with Western countries intensified over the past year. On many occasions senior officials from Western countries visited Albania, while personalities from Albanian politics and diplomacy carried out working and official visits to those countries. High-level delegations worked to bring Albania closer to Western countries and European bodies. So far the result has been satisfactory, and it speaks of the growth of Albania’s relations with the West and with the world. This is clearly in line with the orientation of Albanian foreign policy, with the Democratic Party’s program for integration into Europe. The leaders of the civilized world see in Albania their partner, and not the isolated and backward country that until a few years ago it presented as its national profile. During 1993, the Albanian government showed maturity in dealing with many issues of foreign policy. Albanian diplomacy proved capable of conveying and defending Albanian interests in international forums and organizations, and this has brought the country positive recognition. In the case of the breakup of the former Yugoslavia, Albania has maintained a consistent and responsible stance, calling for peaceful solutions and condemning ethnic cleansing. Relations with the USA, Italy, Germany, France and other Western countries saw a significant expansion. In the field of the economy, aid and loans from international institutions and from friendly countries have been a driving force for reform processes. Albania has entered into new relations with the IMF, the World Bank and the EBRD. Regional cooperation has also been an important direction, despite the difficulties brought by the crisis in the former Yugoslavia. The aim of Albanian diplomacy remains integration into Euro-Atlantic structures and the strengthening of the democratic state. The balance sheet of this year shows that diplomacy is a chance for integration into Europe and for the consolidation of democracy. Albania has more friends, more understanding and more responsibility for its European future.

Criminal acts driven by sinister anti-Albanian aims of the Slavs, unaccompanied by stable political-legal positions on border issues by officials, are aimed at destabilizing the situation in Albania. Statement by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on developments on the northern border. Based on information received from the Hani i Hotit Border Detachment, at 18:00 on 2 January 1994, Yugoslav border forces opened automatic gunfire on Border Post No. 20, seriously wounding the Albanian soldier Ramadan Hamzallari, 23 years old, who died on 4 January from the wounds sustained. The Yugoslav border forces continued firing even after the protest made by the Albanian side. One day later, on 3 January 1994, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the Albanian government had protested to the Yugoslav authorities and had requested measures to stop such provocative acts. At the same time, international organizations and the diplomatic missions accredited in Tirana were informed. Burrel. The number of people poisoned has reached 785. All of them have been examined and are receiving the necessary medical assistance and treatment. The 30 patients who have been admitted to the Burrel hospital are also in good condition. They were poisoned by consuming canned fish for the return of the owners. ATSH

The opening of an article by H. Jupe after New Year Partnëritët ne ndërrmonë do të bashkëpunojnë ne krim sh.up “... anëtarët e PS, humbje kohe,” [Editorial note?] Last week our readers had the pleasure of reading a long interview with doctor Sali Berisha, President of the Republic, given to the newspaper “RD”. In this interview, among other things, Dr. Berisha accused the chairman of the Socialist Party, Mr. Nano, of being the main instigator of the unrest and of the wave of terror that is currently engulfing Albania. Beyond individual responsibility for any act of terror, it is now clear to everyone that the choice of the Socialist Party leader says much more than that. The signs also include the participation of people close to this party in several events of a violent nature, including cases of armed attacks against the police and state institutions. In such a climate comes an article by Mr. H. Jupe, published in the PS organ “Zëri i Popullit,” where, without any equivocation, he equates the party with its chairman. The title of the article — “When we say PS we mean Nano and when we say Nano we mean PS” — is more than a rhetorical formulation; it expresses an authoritarian conception of political organization. Instead of the pluralism of opinions, debate and party institutions, there appears a blind identification of the whole with a single individual. This conception clashes with the basic principles of a modern democratic party. It resembles the old models of the cult of the individual, where the leader is absorbed by the organization and the organization disappears within his figure. Albania’s recent experience with dictatorship makes this kind of political spirit even more dangerous. It is no coincidence that such rhetoric appears in moments of tension, when the opposition should take responsibility for its language and actions. If the partnership claimed in the name of the opposition were translated into cooperation with violent elements, that would be not only a waste of time for the country, but a direct threat to democratic order. Members of the PS, instead of turning a blind eye to this extreme personalization, should reflect on the direction in which they are being led. The editorial raises the question of whether behind the political slogans there is a dangerous project to replace democratic debate with obedience to a single man. “SHARPENING THE PEN AGAINST THE PRESIDENT” MORI RD

THANE-Burreli. The President of the Property and Constitution Defense Commission and former political persecuted person, Fatos Klosi, was detained on Sunday evening in the city of Burrel. The President of the Property and Constitution Defense Commission was detained together with two other persons who were with him, in a vehicle where unlicensed weapons were found. According to local sources, the detention was carried out by the police after a check at the entrance to the city. No further details are given about the case. NATIONAL LIBRARY TIRANA