The second conference of the Democratic Party Youth Forum for the Elbasan district was held YOUTH—THE HOPE OF THE FUTURE —Mr. Tritan Shehu, Secretary General of the DPA, also took part On Saturday morning, the second conference of the DP Youth Forum for the Elbasan district was held in the “Skampa” Theatre hall in the city of Elbasan. The report delivered by the young student Blendi Gjoni described the activities of this forum over the past year. The forum’s main preoccupation, it was said at the conference, had been distancing itself from left-wing extremists and increasing its ranks with young people. To make young people’s lives as varied as possible, the Youth Forum has organized various cultural activities, such as “poetic gatherings,” poetry evenings at which “Kristoforidhi” awards were presented, etc. The Forum voiced its concern about the student–rectorate relationship at the university. The University of Elbasan, the speaker said, has a rector who is also a member of parliament. As such, he is unable to perform both functions. For this reason, his replacement has long been requested, but this has not happened to date. It should be noted that most of the students at this university are from Elbasan, but some are also from other districts. This has meant that they feel disadvantaged, because they do not receive scholarships. Students from Elbasan, however, receive scholarships, which appears to be discriminatory. According to student Gjoni, this situation must change. Mr. Tritan Shehu, Secretary General of the DP, also spoke about this issue. Turning to the political situation our country is experiencing, among other things he stressed: “At a time when our country is seeing new developments on the road to democracy, the attacks against the DP are becoming increasingly aggressive. The perpetrators of these attacks are certain forces infected with nostalgia for the past, or even linked to it by criminal ties. Nor are other forces far behind; they are finding support and backing among the leaders of Belgrade, to the detriment of the national cause.” Speaking further about the DP program, Mr. Shehu stressed once again that this party and the path it has embarked upon are the only way forward during this difficult period of transition. Nevertheless, it must be borne in mind that most unemployed people are young. Therefore, in order for them too to become part of the life of the country, they need to be employed; greater efforts must be made by local government to open up new job opportunities. Then Mr. Tritan Shehu, Secretary General of the DP, addressed the conference. the DP, addressed the conference. new job opportunities. A question submitted in writing from the audience: “I am a student who used to be in the Eurosocialist Forum and today I want to join the DP Youth Forum. What prospects does this forum offer me?” Mr. Tritan Shehu replied: “Everyone has the right to evolve in their views. We have all evolved, and will continue to evolve, in our opinions. This is what we have in mind when we say that the future belongs to democracy. On March 22, 1.2 million voters voted for us. We are convinced that in the future even more people will vote for us, including some who voted against us. The Youth Forum does not offer you prospects of privilege, but the opportunity to contribute to democracy, to the country, and to our future.” In response to a question from the audience about the criteria used to appoint chairpersons, Mr. Shehu replied firmly: “The DP is against the use of political biographies in hiring personnel; it takes each person’s individual abilities into account. Mr. Berisha gave the best answer to this question at his meeting with the capital’s intellectuals,” Mr. Shehu concluded. The conference also received a message of greeting from the Independent Forum of the Student Union. At the end, the conference elected its governing bodies. Prepared by: ZEF LLESHI Rectorate. replacement has been requested for some time, but to date this has not happened. It should be said that the students of this university are the ones who bring the forum to life. The good work of the university’s sub-branch of the DP Youth Forum is reflected in the large number of members, 385 of whom are also members of the Democratic Party. The lively, active life of the young people at the University of Elbasan, it was said at the meeting, clashes with certain outdated attitudes that persist among the leadership: many are very old, and some have even reached retirement age, while there are plenty of young lecturers here who are capable of moving things forward. At the conference it was emphasized that

PRISHTINA: The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, reiterated at today’s press conference the appeal to the international community to take preventive and concrete steps concerning Kosovo. Although, on the surface, this week saw a political status quo regarding action on the crisis in the former Yugoslavia, and thus also around Kosovo, the situation was tense throughout the region, Rugova emphasized. In Kosovo, the front of violence continued: massive and chain-like Serbian repression against Albanians, intended to exert constant pressure on people and on the situation in general, President Rugova assessed. There were raids, mistreatment, destruction of homes, and arrests on the pretext of searching for weapons, particularly in Albanian villages. “Far from the eyes of the world.”

During their stay in Kosovo, the CSCE representatives—heads of embassies in Belgrade, Laura Mirakian (Italy) and Dr. Geran Jakobson and Torsten Petre (Sweden) , who replaced the observers expelled from Kosovo last summer—also visited the Council for the Defence of Human Rights and Freedoms in Prishtina. During an extensive discussion about the state of human rights and freedoms, they took a particular interest in the political trials following the mass arrests of Albanians during the past year, as well as in the position of Albanians following the measures being taken in the economic and financial sphere in Serbia and Montenegro. ATSH

The destruction of Albania, both morally and psychologically and economically, came as a consequence of the anti-national criminal policy of the dictator Enver Hoxha; it resulted from the incompetence and mediocrity of all those who had been placed in charge of the Party and the state. The 47-year period ruled by the Party of Labour, with Enver Hoxha at its head and later Ramiz Alia, is the most irrefutable argument that the PPSH was incapable of bringing the country up to the level of other developed nations. It is also a fact that the PS is nothing other than an invention formed from the remaining fragments of the PPSH, which inherit in their genes the same biological capabilities as their predecessors, who were notable for their many political vices and intellectual weaknesses. Yet such people as Fatos Nano, Namik Dokle and other conservative social-communist elements continue to measure themselves, perched on a chair, against their morning shadows, just as Enver Hoxha did with the “glorious” Party he had undertaken to lead—not only Albania, but the whole world—and if some “fool” opposed this, he was made to pay the price he deserved. The PS leaders, being unaware of the role of the opposition, take actions that compromise them not only as incapable of responsibly and competently directing the fate of their party, but also make them a danger of returning us once again to the hell we left behind. If Mr. Meksi encounters difficulties in some matters, these are due more to the crisis inherited from the PP-PS and to the current destructive policy pursued by the PS at every level to sabotage reform, create a political crisis, etc. The PS is neither a serious nor a credible political party when it declares that “Truth and justice will triumph one day.” Truth and justice have already won, on March 22, thanks to the contribution of all the progressive democratic forces of the Albanian people who embraced the ideal and program of the PD as the only political party early elections, the PS supports it, according to its claim, because other parties and political figures have also expressed this view. As far as we know, no parliamentary or non-parliamentary political party other than the PS and PAD has called for early elections. And the political figures, apart from those of the PS, are also those of the PAD. Apparently, the PS and PAD, in alliance, have dreamed of early elections in which they would win 50 percent for the PS and 20 percent for the PAD, respectively. That is how they have seen themselves in the state hierarchy in a long-cherished dream of pseudo-politicians pathologically obsessed with seats of power. MENTOR SHEHU

—A. Imami in Kuçovë again— Wearing a black raincoat with its collar turned up, his face somewhat gloomy, accompanied by Blend Fevziu and two unshaven toughs in a dark “Mercedes,” A. Imami arrived in Kuçovë on 26.1.1994, for the second time within a month. But unlike the first time, on this occasion he met with the 6–7 members of his Party in the hall of the Children’s Palace. He responded negatively to the insistence of 4–5 PS members who wanted to attend the meeting, thereby “breaking” the hearts of people who at that moment wished to welcome him. Under strict control, in the empty hall, face to face, for over an hour, new instructions and a new work platform for the period after 26 January were handed down. According to an insider, this time too no negative word was left unsaid about the President, the Government, the PD, and its most determined members. The fact that the wing of the AD was now the PS and PUK was mentioned in passing, without much emphasis, and they were instructed that AD members should not be ashamed of this alliance. They were also instructed that the PS should be supported by AD members on every occasion, and some rally that might come from that side was given as an example. “For now, the only enemy of the AD is the PD,” the visitors stressed. At this moment, A. Imami pointed out, the AD must act wisely to increase its reputation. The membership of the AD branch in Kuçovë must be increased with new members, who, according to Imami, could be drawn away from the PD. “Our task,” Imami repeatedly stressed, “is to destroy the PD and the Government and change parliament.” Imami’s harsh tone, the coldness of the empty hall, the glaring lights of the high ceiling, and the rest—the other seven AD members at the meeting were left stunned. Hunched over, they could barely follow Imami’s thundering tone as he took advantage of the days “imposed” by parliament to “stir up” the “frozen hearts” of his own members. DHIMITER LLESHI

—Is the “angel” socialist Sabit Broka a sinner?— On 20.8.1992, a notice from the State Audit confirmed that, of the 394 tons of food aid that had arrived from France in 20 trucks intended for the health sector, 254 tons had been received and added to the trade sector in Vlora at prices set by the managers themselves, while 98 tons had been sold by an NTU in Tirana. In other words, a total of 352 tons had been documented as received and sold. That leaves 42 tons missing! What happened to them? Where did they end up? Whose pockets did they fill? Let us recall that at the time Comrade Sabit Broka was Minister of Health, very well informed and directly, or through his close associates, deeply interested in the distribution or trading of the large shipment of aid from France in August. At the same time, he was also responsible for shouldering the heavy burden of Italian revenues from medicines, in which, along with his personal interests, many other interests from high and low places in Albania and Italy were involved. Whose luck did it make, and whose did it ruin? Sabit? Doctor? Were they tormented by this drama, lost their revolutionary vigilance, and overlooked the numerous violations identified and reported by the Italian prosecutor, Evelina Canale, in her interview given to the BBC that day and published in “RD” on January 27? Ever since the layers of the pie cooked during his time as a minister were exposed—especially after he lost his seat—Sabit has haunted us with the thought that one day he will be called to account for the violations that, after all, bear his signatures and seals. To make that day as distant or impossible as possible, I want to single out one course of action: the PD must be driven from power by any means and in any way, and the PS must take over, Fatos Nano must once again become prime minister, and he must become Minister of Health. Is the long silence of the justice system regarding his old violations also helping him realize this dream?! A year and a half has passed since the audit and the notice issued by the State Audit working group, composed of Messrs. Rustom Tare and Sako Rama, concerning serious violations involving the French aid. They sounded the alarm over 42 missing tons and called for the criminal prosecution of Shpetim Koles and Agim Drajpaj under Articles 106 and 13 of the Penal Code. But apparently they stopped there. It was then the Prosecutor’s Office’s duty to take over and fully solve this mystery. When will it do so? XHYVAT MUSTAFA

Reply It is well known that the army occupies a special place in the programmes of all political parties. Indeed, the issue of defense is their common denominator. The Army and the Flag are national symbols. The Flag Anthem and the commander’s orders are the sacred voice of the Homeland. The Army and the Flag belong to everyone and, at the same time, are no one’s monopoly. Our military personnel did not heed any party when they supported the democratic process. They sensed the new wind that was coming and that would do Albania good. They supported pluralism, although they were aware that this post-Cold War climate would significantly weaken the Army. The army reform began a year and a half ago. Hundreds of officers, both of and below retirement age, have been discharged. And yet they find the strength to overcome the bitterness of being discharged, to face financial difficulties and other family troubles stoically; and when someone makes a jeering remark about the army, they put them in their place, because for them the army has been, and remains, their dignity and the meaning of their lives. Albania will be grateful to them for their patriotic composure. The Army will have its most precious reserve in them. However, there are voices stirring up unrest, taking advantage of people’s economic difficulties, including the precarious situation of discharged military personnel (although they receive 70–80% of the salaries they used to earn). We all remember the first disturbances, which former State Security agents wanted to foment... When that attempt failed, the active army became the target of attack, sowing uncertainty among officers through the stress of cutbacks. “These cutbacks are being made by the DP; if we were in power...” Gentlemen! Answer honestly! Which party that came to power would not make drastic cuts in the Armed Forces, so that the war budget could be redirected to improving peacetime life in each country? Who has said that discipline has declined because of these cutbacks, either now or back when ragged soldiers without leave used to pass through the towns? When were readiness and training higher: at the deployment sites or now in the barracks? When was the commander’s authority greater: back then, without rank, under the diktat and mockery of commissars, or now, when his word is law and his action is military? We in the military understand that it is not pluralism for political forces not to confront and oppose one another, but it would be criminal, for the sake of narrow and short-sighted interests, to denigrate what must remain common and sacred to all: the Army. Tell us, gentlemen, in which newspapers, films or magazines of any other country are the army’s affairs treated as a bargaining chip? How is it possible for a citizen to vilify a Minister of Defense, when it is known that at this minister’s word that citizen may have to go to war and face death? Such things cannot happen in civilized countries with a democratic culture. Nevertheless, here too, despite all this, time has taken its course. Army reform has entered its third phase. This reality has persuaded some authors of such articles to withdraw, remain silent and even engage in self-criticism. But we are surprised that while the opposition party newspaper is beginning to understand the army as a shared symbol and not one party’s monopoly, there are newspapers such as “Koha jone”, which considers itself even more advanced, that have sounded the alarm twice: first over rearmament (the movement of tanks), and now over disarmament (the securing of weapons in accordance with legal standards). We do not understand what is troubling the editorial staff of this newspaper: the army’s rearmament or disarmament? Back then, we moved tanks to equip newly structured units, while “Koha Jone” sounded the alarm that these tanks were approaching the northern border with Serbia. Fortunately, an international commission was at the border and refuted these slanders. That was the beginning of the reform’s second phase; now, as we stand on the threshold of its third phase, it has come up with a sensational headline: “The army is being disarmed.” And this “sensation” erupted again when the Deputy Secretary of Defense of the United States declared that he was very impressed and surprised by the progress Albania had made with its army. The question arises naturally: Why so much venom, dear brothers? Are we Albanian or not?! Who benefits from your familiar refrain of the great lie, “The mass disarmament of the Army”? First, the order of the Minister of Defense has nothing whatsoever to do with the word disarmament, but with the organization and securing of personal weapons according to the model of NATO armies. Second, why call it “massive” when 70% of the units and formations serving in border areas are not allowed to... the past, or even linked to it by ties of friendship. But neither do other forces that are finding support and backing from the leaders in Belgrade, to the detriment of the national cause, stand apart. Going on to speak about the DP’s programme, Mr Shehu once again emphasized that this party is open to everyone who embraces its programme. The DP is not a militant party, nor is it a party of biographies. It is an electorate party, and as such the concept of member and supporter will continue to narrow.” At the meeting with the young people, Mr Maksim Konomi, chairman of the Committee for Science and Technology, spoke about the prospects opening up for Albanian education, and particularly for our universities, and about the measures the Government is taking to train students and young lecturers

750 NEW MEMBERSHIPS IN THE TIRANA DP BRANCH The period following the Second National Congress of the DP was a time when there was a strong inclination toward new memberships in the DP. In the Tirana DP branch alone, 750 new members have joined the DP, mainly from the central institutions of the capital and among intellectuals. The arrival of intellectuals in the DP will create great opportunities for them to contribute to democracy in Albania on a larger scale. This will, in particular, increase their decisive role in Albania’s national and democratic progress. Correspondent: I of “RD”