-The second national conference of the SP- -The 12th congress of the PPSH- -Instead of clinging to the shadows of Shukterverianism, the leaders of the SP constantly seek alibis in defeat- -This wickedness by Shkëlqim Cani with the masks of white energies- At the Second National Conference of the largest organization of communists in Albania, which they have wickedly called the Socialist Party in order to reduce the cost of the losses they are suffering, an attempt was made to escape the truth. The PPSH and its dark forces governed Albania for around 50 years without interruption. During that period it shook Albania to its foundations, destroyed its economy, and plunged the country into misery. Damages of such incalculable magnitude, as its own people now admit, are the consequence of its work. They know how to criticize the wound and point to the “ZP”, but they do not want to admit that they themselves are the authors and the people who caused it. And how could it be otherwise? Wasn’t Albania turned into such a catastrophe with Sali Berisha at the time? It was precisely they who plunged our people into this condition. The Socialist Party tries to create the illusion that it has left its own past behind and that this is a fabrication of the PD. If the name has changed, that does not mean that the substance has changed. It still has not made a true reckoning of its past. Nor was its Second National Conference seen to do such a thing. On the contrary, with cunning, it repeatedly tried to find alibis. Here enters the familiar reasoning that “if the Eastern market had not collapsed, if foreign credit had not been cut off, if grain and raw material imports had continued,” etc., etc. What does that mean? It means that their system was being kept on its feet by foreign crutches. When those disappeared, it collapsed. But even this is only partly true. The system was flawed at its core; it could no longer go on. There were not only conjunctural difficulties, but a deep structural and moral crisis. This crisis had long since become apparent. Now they want to present it as if the failure came only from external factors. This is an attempt to shift responsibility. Instead of drawing lessons from that period, the leaders of the SP continue to justify themselves. And so, with new masks, with soft words and new labels, they want to present themselves as reformed. But changing the name is not enough. The spirit must change, the substance must change, the relationship with the past must change. Their conference showed that this has not happened. It was more like a belated congress of the PPSH than a modern social-democratic party. The same refrains, the same justifications, the same alibis were heard there. There was also talk of “white energy,” of hydroelectric plants, of technical and economic achievements of the past, but there was silence about the great human and social price of that system. Figures were mentioned, but not suffering; investments, but not prisons; power plants, but not isolation; campaigns, but not fear. And when they tried to speak about the economy, the cunning of Shkëlqim Cani also became apparent, as he uses the masks of “white energies” to create the impression that that system needed nothing more than better management. The truth is entirely different. That system was fundamentally wrong. Therefore, the attempt to find alibis for its failures is pointless. Albanians have experienced it on their own backs and are no longer easily deceived. The second national conference of the SP clearly showed that a true break from the past has still not occurred. On the contrary, in many respects it resembled a reinstatement of the same old logic, wrapped in new vocabulary.

TIRANA, by our special correspondent. During his visit to London, the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, held a meeting with Lord Owen and Mr. Stoltenberg. The discussion focused on the latest developments in the region, peace efforts, and the role of the international factor. President Berisha emphasized the need for a just and lasting solution, underlining the importance of respecting the rights of peoples and regional stability. The interlocutors exchanged views on the progress of the negotiations and on the responsibilities of the main actors in the peace process. They also discussed the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the consequences that the war brings for the countries of the region. The meeting was assessed as useful and constructive.

President Clinton meets with President Rugova Then, in the official information it is stated that in talks with President Rugova and Rexhep Qosja, the spokesman [...] Al Kufi arrives at this conclusion: “The democratic world understands [...] the Kosovo issue.” According to various reports, the meetings emphasized that the Kosovo problem requires a peaceful and democratic solution and that the international factor is following the situation with increased attention. President Rugova presented the positions of the Kosovo Albanians in favor of freedom, democracy, and independence, and the Serbian repression and the need for the involvement of international institutions were also discussed. The official announcements stress that the support of the United States remains of particular importance for the prospects of the Kosovo issue.

According to a news agency report, American Ambassador Hill has said that there is interest in a broad aid program for our country, comparable to a “Marshall Plan.” In his statements, he underlined the importance of economic reforms, political stability, and international support for democratic processes in Albania. He praised the efforts toward transformation and stressed that aid would be tied to progress in reforms.

It would be impossible not to notice “ZP” in yesterday’s issue, despite the fact that with the “science” of its own streetwise approach and the “studies” of its supposed specialists, it tried to compare the former situation with the present one, or rather, to find alibis for its own failure. “ZP” once again sings the same tune, defending an undeniable legacy of the PPSH and presenting reality through propaganda means. Its article tries to create the impression that today has no connection with yesterday and that the problems are only the product of the transition. But this is a huge bluff. The historical responsibility of those who brought the country to this state cannot be denied. The attempt to relativize the past with superficial comparisons no longer convinces citizens. The truth is that old propaganda continues with new means.

President Clinton letter You sincerely, Bill Clinton Thanking you in advance for your kind co-operation, I remain. Below we give the translation into Albanian. Following the article, an Albanian-language translation of a letter from President Clinton is published, in which interest in developments in Kosovo and support for a peaceful solution are expressed. The text is partial on the page and continues further.