Nano was relieved of his duties as prime minister after a general strike by the unions brought economic life in the country to a standstill, taking responsibility for his failures in the economic and political sphere. The PS made its first sacrifice by emotionally and opportunistically accepting F. Nano as head of its Political Bureau, a man with a substantial record of damage, a politically spent figure who represented no alternative for bringing the country out of the crisis and had no inclination to serve the left-wing movement. With its lack of realism, the PS continued to contribute to its sacrifices, placing itself at the service of rehabilitating Nano’s failed image. The entire history that has unfolded since 22 March has been characterized by the PS’s revanchism, placed at the service of the failed politician F. Nano in order to rehabilitate him and, if possible, return him to power. This has been the PS’s greatest sacrifice in the present and for the future, since it has willingly placed itself at the disposal of F. Nano’s private ego, so that he and his clan can regain power. The political tragedy of the caretakers of the “V. I. Lenin” school who prepared Nano is that they are feeding him the political platform of the proletarian revolution drafted by K. Marx, through 12 points that culminate in armed insurrection. They have called for the use of the December Revolution’s blueprint to overthrow the democratic regime—a blueprint that definitively brands the PS as a hasty creation of the PPSH, as a historical link to the PP and Enver Hoxha, and as a political idealist in the new historical, political, and social circumstances. Thus the PS continued to make sacrifices, continued to take steps backward in its representation of the left-wing movement, specifically in defending disadvantaged groups and pursuing social policies in their favor. In this sense, the PS sacrificed its program, ideas, and political and philosophical concepts for the chair of the former prime minister of the PPSH. By tying itself to Nano, whose color is red, the PS was and remains destined to gloss over its political failures; it was and remains destined to sacrifice, first, the interests of the Albanian people as a whole and, second, the interests of the “disadvantaged classes.” The PS’s sacrifices for F. Nano have continued in all of this party’s alliances with the outside world. All the meetings held by PS leaders, instead of being used for Albania’s benefit, instead of being used to make persistent requests for aid and investment for the Albanian people to alleviate the consequences of the transition—especially for the “disadvantaged classes,” for whom it weeps day and night through “ZP”—continue to be used to call for a boycot[t?] of Albania in Europe. The ineptitude of the PS’s Enverist leadership goes so far that it is even willing to sacrifice its own Eurosocialist ideals while claiming to represent them. This is also done by pursuing a negative and obstructive policy toward the social action of the democratic government, including cynical campaigns in defense of Nano, in order to inflame politics with discord and promote tension and distrust in the productivity of the democratic state’s economic program. Here, anyone with normal reasoning can understand that the PS’s descent to the very footstool of Nano’s chair is a discriminatory pose by this political force. A political primitivism that secured leadership at the head of the PS secured that leadership through the former State Security service. Anyone inside or outside the PS can understand that if all these articles in “ZP” had instead called for work and investment and provided a realistic assessment of the situation, Albania would be much further ahead, and it would be much easier for the government to work toward bringing the country out of transition as quickly as possible. In reality, how many people has this entire PS campaign for deputy Nano put to work? How many new factories has it built? How much has it eased the Albanian people’s sacrifices in building democracy and the rule of law? Nothing; it has only contributed to Nano’s cult, a cult being built, first of all, on the general sacrifice of the PS and socialist ideals as a whole.

FROM THE BERISHA–ALBRIGHT MEETING TIRANA, 14 January — This morning, President of the Republic Sali Berisha received the envoy of U.S. President Clinton, Madaleine Albright (Ombrait), U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Security Council and a member of President Clinton’s Cabinet. She was accompanied by senior officials from the National Security Council, the State Department, and the Department of Defense. “I am authorized by President Clinton to convey to you the message that he and the U.S. Government are directly concerned with ensuring Albania’s security and stability,” Mrs. Albright said. She added that the United States admires and fully supports the institutional and economic reforms in the country and thanks President Berisha for Albania’s support for the Partnership for Peace. She announced the creation of a 25-million-dollar American Enterprise Fund for Albania, which will encourage U.S. investment in the country. In addition, 5 million dollars will be allocated for technical assistance to our country. The main provisions of NATO’s offer, initiated by the Americans, for a Partnership for Peace were formally presented to the President. “We bear in mind that Albania is the first country to have sought NATO membership, and we appreciate the level of cooperation you have established with the Alliance,” Mrs. Albright said. The American side made clear that Washington’s support for bilateral military cooperation would continue. Mrs. Albright also praised Albania’s observance of the embargo. President Berisha stressed that we are grateful for the support that the American government, institutions, and citizens have given Albania during this period. We consider cooperation with the United States very important not only because of our historical ties and the fact that this country is the principal supporter of freedom and democracy in the world, but also because we regard the American presence as vital to peace and stability on our continent—not only for Albanians, but for everyone else as well. President Berisha expressed his approval of signing the Partnership for Peace, emphasizing that he considered it an active phase in Albania’s integration into the Atlantic Alliance. “But we will continue to insist that we become a member of NATO,” he said. The establishment of the Enterprise Fund in Albania is very good news for Albanians and will be a powerful support for reform in our country, Mr. Berisha said, and requested that procedures for approving the Bilateral Investment Treaty be expedited. The President expressed Albania’s appreciation for the United States’ determination to uphold the sanctions against Serbia, despite the harm they cause to the Albanian economy. “Any easing of the embargo supports Milošević’s militarist policy,” he emphasized. Mr. Berisha requested compensation, under the UN Charter, for the losses the embargo has caused the Albanian economy. President Berisha stressed that the acceptance of UN monitors in Kosovo is essential. He requested that the lifting of the embargo also be made conditional on resolving the Kosovo issue. “The question of Albanians in the Balkans is key to the stability of the peninsula,” he said, “and the embargo is currently the only means of compelling such solutions.” President Berisha discussed cooperation in the military fields with the American representatives, expressing his willingness to deepen it. He also requested U.S. Government support in resolving Albania’s foreign-debt problem and for other projects. President Berisha sent warm greetings to President Clinton and Vice President Gore and expressed his wish to welcome them to Albania. Other bilateral issues and the situation in the region were also discussed during the talks.

On Friday afternoon, PDSH chairman Mr. Eduard Selami received at the headquarters of the Democratic Party representatives of the parliamentary group of Macedonia’s Party for Democratic Prosperity, led by Mr. Xheladin Murati, Deputy Speaker of the Assembly. The representatives of the PPD parliamentary group praised the role of the Democratic Party and President Berisha in establishing democracy in Albania, defending the interests of Albanians living in their ancestral lands in the former Yugoslavia, and playing a constructive role in overcoming the crisis in the PPD of the Albanians of Macedonia. The PPD parliamentary delegation stressed that the current crisis in this party was caused by the party leadership’s months-long obstruction of its political life; under pressure from ordinary party members, the leadership was recently forced to resign collectively. PDSH Press and Information Department

(Meeting of AD leaders in Shkodra) - One victim. The result of AD’s thug politics. - AD in defense of Nano and the Serbs. - AD leaders’ insults irritate the audience, which reacts. On Friday, 15 January, some of the PAD leaders organized a political meeting in Shkodra. According to various sources, this was not a meeting of “select intellectuals” aspiring to pure democracy and ethical politics, but a meeting where the language of thug politics was used, as at all gatherings of this kind. At such meetings, politicians try to present their ideas and convictions, the audience is ready to hear the alternatives offered, and then chooses among them. Some may approve of what a political group says and others may not, since the audience also has its own preferences on various issues; that is democracy. Unfortunately, the AD leaders, once so determined to defend diversity of opinion within the PD, did not allow their insults and deceptions before the audience to be answered. The result: a 26-year-old young man became the victim of a particularly intolerable crime. The quarrel was provoked and subsequently ended with the killing of Gjovallin Çekidën. Known for bombastic statements and deceptions, the AD leaders used the platform to spew venom against those currently leading the Albanian state. Not only that, but according to reports, their desire to oppose everything the Albanian state does today has led them to new political lows. Thus, after making accusations “without evidence” that “today’s rulers are mired in corruption” (as G. Pashko says), and accusations against S. Berisha, the AD leaders have come out in defense of Nano (whom they once voted against). Yet, as the saying goes, “the limit has been reached” with their statements about Serbia: “We have neither killed the Serbs, nor have they ever killed us,” while “the democratic government’s ties with Islamists are making us fall out with our neighbors.” It seems that the visit of the “kissers” to Belgrade was not merely a blunder by the head of the AD. Imamij said that they went to Belgrade to “avert war.” It is no wonder that what an entire Europe cannot avert, even with its [unclear: “dhoti”], may be averted by the AD with powerful assistance from N. Hoti. With the AD leaders’ “minor optimism” and N. Hoti’s comic intelligence, anything can be achieved. Irritated by such statements, some people in the hall responded and argued back. This also happened because the AD leaders did not answer all the questions submitted to them in writing, and the police intervened. After the exchanges, the hall was thrown into confusion. The irritated part of the audience—almost half the hall—which would no longer accept hearing insults and deception about “blank checks,” went outside. Meanwhile, some people came out after the meeting ended and followed the person from the theater to Shkodra Street, beating the person who had argued with the meeting’s leaders. Some of his friends happened to be nearby, and a fight broke out between the two sides. One of them was armed and, in the course of the fight, struck the victim. Thus, a 26-year-old young man became a victim of the AD’s thug politics. The relevant authorities must investigate this tragic event. It seems that the PD deputies have begun a campaign of deception in support of the trick played by the PD chairman regarding new elections. They have said they might attract 15–20 percent in the next elections, but if they continue like this, they will only increase the number of their opponents. power together with his clan. The political tragedy of the custodians of the “V.I. him the political platform of the proletarian revolution drawn up uprising. Nano’s moderation has gone as far as Albania, instead of being used to make persistent demands for aid and investment for the Albanian people, in order to alleviate the effects of the transition, especially for the “underprivileged strata” that she mourns day and night through “ZP,” continues to call for a boycott of Albania and for its final non-integration for all the questions that have been submitted to them in writing, and the police have intervened. After the exchanges, chaos broke out in the hall. The irritated portion of the people (almost half the hall), who would no longer listen to the insults and lies about “blank cheques,” went outside. Meanwhile, several people came out after the meeting had ended and followed him from the Theatre to Shkodra Street, assaulting of his close between the two sides. As one of them was armed, during the fight he struck the victim. Thus, a 26-year-old young man becomes a victim of AD’s thuggish politics. The relevant authorities should investigate this tragic incident. Apparently, PD MPs “hirinjës” made by the PD chairman for new elections. They have stated that they could their opponents.

Well-informed sources confirmed to our correspondent that the Rome Prosecutor’s Office is seeking supplementary investigations into members of parliament Gramoz Pashko and Sabit Brokaj as individuals implicated in the Albanian-Italian intergovernmental corruption scandal. For now, the names of both have surfaced. This may be the beginning of a major process concerning losses involving aid, at the expense of a hungry and suffering people. It is possible that the involvement of these two is what makes them such ardent defenders of Nano. We shall see what the investigations uncover.

Yesterday, the Enverist wing of the Albanian Social Democrats, at the helm of the newspaper “Alternativa SD,” twistedly declared honest and persecuted those whom this same newspaper had recently described as fascists. In this article about Kalakula, one finds “positive opinions of him as an honest person and someone who was truly persecuted.” Such political juggling has the sole aim of strengthening the ranks of the Enverists in order to attack the Democratic Party. It is clear whom such objectives might serve. It is time for honest and genuine Social Democrats to distance themselves from the Enverist hyenas, to remove them from their midst, and to defend to the end the ideals of European social democracy. Let the Enverists join the kalkulat and baletas. Deep in their hearts they carry Enver, totalitarian psychology, and the crimes they committed under the dictatorship. Only those who can take the immoral for the moral can imagine how honest someone who disowned his brother could be. How low these unfortunate people have fallen. These elements, who yesterday filled the pages with attacks on Baleta, defend him today, showing that they have no principles whatsoever, as long as they serve Enverism. This article published in “Alternativa” shows that the Social Democrats are made up of incompatible or compatible currents to the extent that criminal Enverism can be reconciled with fascism and with genuine socialist ideals. We do not wish to leave out any genuine Social Democrat or any prominent figure in this party who upholds the principles of social democracy. Nevertheless, it is in their party’s honor to “put a stop” to Enverism and establish a clear dividing line between themselves and its bearers. This way, the PSD itself, and Albanian democracy in general, will gain more strength against which the chorus of old and new Enverian ghosts is shrieking.

Projects and assistance from the American Congress and the German Bundestag —Based on an interview with the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Culture and Public Information Media, Mr. Uran Butka—

Pursuant to Article 28, point 7, of Law No. 7491, dated 29 April 1991, “On the Main Constitutional Provisions,” on the proposal of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers I HEREBY DECREE: Article 1 Mr. Tritan Shehu is relieved of his duties as Minister of Health and Environmental Protection, having been assigned another duty. Article 2 Mr. Maksim Cikuli is appointed Minister of Health and Environmental Protection. Article 3 This decree enters into force immediately. Tirana, 14 January 1994 Decree number 755 President of the Republic SALI BERISHA