—Address by President Berisha on the occasion of the 550th anniversary of the Assembly of Lezha— Ladies and Gentlemen, Brothers and sisters, Citizens of Lezha, Ladies and Gentlemen, Brothers and sisters, Citizens of Lezha, The Assembly of Lezha, whose 550th anniversary we commemorate today, is one of the brightest events in our national history. The Assembly of Lezha is the Assembly of the great pledge that Albanians gave to freedom, the everlasting pledge that the wise men of these lands gave to Albania. This Assembly will always remind Albanians that diversity of opinion is a factor that unites them, and that, while opinions may divide them, freedom unites them, blood unites them, Albania unites them. The Assembly of Lezha is the Assembly of Albanian understanding and great wisdom. Here in Lezha, 550 years ago, Albanians showed the world how precious and sacred freedom and national dignity are to them. The Assembly of Lezha is the Assembly of our national bravery and courage. At this Assembly, the Albanians decided to The Assembly of Lezha represents an important and decisive moment in Gjergj Kastrioti-Skenderbeu’s efforts to unite the Albanians and organize the struggle against foreign occupiers. Alongside the great expectations surrounding the Assembly, with this historic decision of the Assembly of Lezha the state of Arbër began to emerge, never to perish again, and a new era began—not only in the Albanians’ struggle against the Ottoman occupiers, but also in our entire national history. At the Assembly of Lezha, the wise delegates also demonstrated that the Albanians were coming together and were ready to make sublime sacrifices to defend not only themselves, but all of Western European civilization. There it was decided to strengthen Albania’s ties with other European countries and secure foreign allies such as the Papacy, Naples, etc., who encouraged and strongly supported the Albanians’ struggle. After the great Assembly of Lezha, the Albanians, united and led by Skenderbeu, faced and won some of the greatest battles remembered in the history of warfare, and their resistance was recognized by the Western world as the principal force defending it from the Ottoman threat. The Albanian epic of the 15th century and the figure of our National Hero left an indelible mark on the consciousness of contemporary Albanians and of generations to come; they became symbols of national pride and an inexhaustible source of inspiration in their centuries-long efforts and struggle for the freedom and independence of the homeland and for the protection of national identity. The great lessons of the Assembly of Lezha are, and will always remain, relevant to Albanians. Skenderbeu awakened the Albanians after long occupations and placed them at the summit that only a nation’s struggle for freedom can reach. Likewise, today our struggle and efforts for democracy are our great opportunity to rise higher every day along the path we have chosen, the path of democracy, and to elevate the name of the Albanian and of Albania. Our time is a time of national ascent. Let us all work together to hasten our rise.

—Another 500 new members in recent months, including 100 intellectuals— —Activity of the PD branch in the district of Berat— —The Secretary General of the Democratic Party of Albania, Mr. Tritan Shehu, attends— The activity of the PD branch in this district was held in the city of Berat. The section and subsection leaders from all the municipalities and city neighborhoods took part, as did guests from the neighboring district of Kuçove. Also attending were the Secretary General of the PDSH, Mr. Tritan Shehu; member of the PDSH National Council, Ms. Merita Zaloshnja; MP Aferdita Zen, etc. At today’s meeting, said Mr. Eduard Dollani, chairman of the PD branch in the district of Berat, in his opening remarks, the branch was meeting to give new emphasis to the activities and functioning of the PD sections and subsections. He stressed that, particularly since the Second National Conference of the PDSH, the flow of new members joining our branch has increased. What stands out is that most of those joining our ranks are intellectuals who until now had not been involved in any political party, or who have left the PPS as a result of that party’s ultra-leftist and Enverist criminal actions. In the past few months alone, our ranks have grown by another 500 members, 100 of them intellectuals, the speaker continued. Other speakers who took the floor then presented at the meeting the work carried out in connection with its theme. The growth of the PDSH ranks brings with it confidence in support for our program and the comprehensive reform course being pursued by the democratic government at this new stage that Albania has entered, said the Secretary General of the PD, Mr. Tritan Shehu, at the beginning of his speech. The PDSH is not a militant, closed party of the proletarian-dictatorship type; it is a party of the electorate, holding the power entrusted to it by the votes of millions of people. It is our primary duty to continue expanding our ranks with the thousands of supporters who voted for us. Let us not forget that more than 1.2 million people voted for us in the last elections, which means that these 1.2 million agree with the PDSH program. Thus we managed to make democracy win in Albania. Thus political stability was achieved and… (Continued on page 2)

The PS Presidium “decided” to call March a “National Day.” Accustomed to designating days for Enver, they have now designated a day for Fatos too. A day for the man who, as a communist prime minister, was not satisfied with the crimes his regime had committed against Albanians, but, even at the final moments of this people’s life-and-death struggle, thought to compound their crimes by stealing hope. Thus 4 March or 5 March could also be designated by the Albanian Parliament as National Days of shame, or as days for the fight against crime and corruption. Albanians cannot… For 50 years under the communist filth, Albanians were forced to erect pedestals to crime, bloodshed and corruption, but that time is over once and for all. Enver Hoxha’s lackeys, those loathsome servants, can no longer force Albanians to do such things. If there are those who listen more to the hysterical followers of Nano and try to take Albania back to where it was, only shame will remain upon them. And not only that: no one will allow the nostalgics, with their to bring them back… Communism continues to resound in our heads. The Democratic Government’s tolerance seems to have created illusions among these people, but we have not forgotten. We have not forgotten that we showed tolerance in December and paid dearly for it. We have not forgotten that our tolerance after the fall of the Wall in 1991 gave rise to Enver’s hysterical associations. We have not forgotten that on 31 March our tolerance was paid for with the blood of four young people. those who endured prisons and… and at the final moments before the death of this people, they thought to add to the filth of March could also be designated National Days by the Albanian Parliament, but as days of shame, or as days of the fight against crime and corruption. Albanians can never designate as their own days of honoring corruption, as Greece and the PS do. If they dare to their filthy, shriveled-up pans the blood of December ’90, February ’91, 2 April our eyes. That our hatred and determination to eradicate them root and branch

—Address by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Dr. Bujar Bukoshi, on the occasion of commemorating the 550th anniversary of the Assembly of Lezha— Honored ladies and gentlemen! Assembly, the Albanians decided to unite to liberate their lands and fight against the superpower of the time, the Ottoman Empire. United for freedom, united for Albania, united for honor and human dignity, united in the name of their fathers and grandfathers who lay in their graves, dishonored by occupation, united to defend the honor of their homes, united for the future of their children, united to defend the great values of Western civilization, here in your Lezha, the cradle of the pledge, unity and national understanding, they pledged their word and, with Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeu at their head, began a great epic, raising the name of the Albanian and of Albania to a height never before reached in history. That is why Lezha has always been, and will always be, an inspiration for our titanic efforts for freedom and national dignity… The Assembly of Lezha was also a historic place of great importance; other distinguished Albanian princes and commanders also played a role in the fierce wars to defend freedom, such as Gjergj Arianiti, who had successfully faced the invading armies and emerged victorious in several consecutive battles, as well as Andre Topia, Nikolle Dukagjini and many others. The immortal Skenderbeu, who gave us honor and a flag, together with these eminent men, managed to unite their principalities and armies in a lasting and powerful political-military league. The Assembly of Lezha was also, in another respect, a place where the victims of injustice and betrayal were brought together. The mother state, established and integrated, becoming democratized and modernized, was our Assembly of Lezha and must remain so. The challenge before us is very great, comparable to that of 550 years ago. And the country, in this era of its own, transplanted into the savagery of ultranationalist confrontations around us, called for cooperation and coordination. History is indescribable once again. However, the Albanians will not be victims, but Skenderbeu of this… and his historic decisions, other distinguished Albanian princes and commanders also played an important Gjergj Arianiti, who had successfully resisted together with these great men, succeeded in uniting the principalities and their armies in a stable and powerful political-military alliance. The Assembly of Lezhë was also his historic venue; other distinguished Albanian princes and commanders played an important Gjergj Arianiti, who had successfully resisted

- In Albania, the private economic situation is better than in 1992 - For 1994, 59 percent of Albanians expect their economic lives to improve, 21 percent expect the situation to remain stable, while 10 percent foresee deterioration and are pessimistic. Albania is the only one among the 16 Eastern European countries surveyed where household incomes increased during the past year compared with 1992. Albania is also the only country in which a majority of the population expects further improvement this year. This is shown by the results of the Eurobarometer survey, conducted from 1–15 December 1993 and published on 1 March in Brussels by the European Community. Among the 16 countries in which the survey was conducted, Albania appears to be the country where the private economy has improved significantly compared with 1992. In the 15 other countries included in the survey, such as Romania, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Slovakia, Poland, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Latvia, Macedonia, Russia, Europe, Armenia, Belarus, Ukraine, etc., 6 out of 10 families see their economic situation worsening, and only one in six families believes that its financial and economic situation has improved. In economic terms, the Albanian population expresses the greatest optimism and therefore ranks first. Asked how they expect their household’s situation to develop over the next 12 months of this year, 59 percent of Albanians replied that they expect their economic situation to improve, 21 percent think there will be no change, while 10 percent are pessimistic and say they see no improvement. All this is according to the EC’s Eurobarometer survey, published on 1 March in Brussels.

THE TRIAL AGAINST ME IS A POLITICAL TRIAL - NANO HEADS TOWARD THE COURTROOM WITH HIS HEAD HELD HIGH AND HIS BELLY FULL. CORRUPTION TREVESIM [sic, text on image]

2 March 1444 – 2 March 1994 LEZHA COMMEMORATED THE 550TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE ALBANIAN LEAGUE —The celebrations were attended by President of the Republic Sali Berisha, Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly Pjeter Arbnori, Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo Bujar Bukoshi, ministers and MPs, party leaders, etc. The activities opened, after the National Anthem was performed, the flag was raised, and flowers were laid on the grave of our National Hero, Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeu, with an address by the President of the Republic, Prof. Dr. Sali Berisha, followed by an address from the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Dr. Bujar Bukoshi. Afterwards, at the city’s Palace of Culture, President Berisha and the dignitaries accompanying him paused for a few moments at the exhibition by painter Pashk Pervathi, inaugurated several days earlier. Those present then attended the jubilee scholarly session, where the opening address by the Chairman of the Academy of Sciences of Albania, Shaban Demiraj, was followed by 7 papers, namely: —The League of Lezha – the first national union of Albanians under the leadership of Skenderbeu, presented by Kasem Bicoku. —Gjergj Kastrioti-Skenderbeu and Kosovo, by Dr. Jahja Drancolli Drançolli. —Albanian historiography on the Assembly of Lezha, presented by Dr. Flamur Hadr i. —The echo of the Assembly of Lezha in France, by Prof. Dr. Ymer Jaka. —Venice and Albania in the 15th century. —Skenderbeu’s international recognition as leader of the Albanians’ anti-Ottoman struggle, by Dr. Perparim Huta. The closing concert, featuring folk singers and instrumentalists from the Venu area, held in the afternoon in the hall of the city’s Palace of Culture in Lezha, with the varied colors of the region’s folklore and costumes, brought the day’s festivities to a close. RD correspondent

Recently, left-wing extremists in the Socialist Party have been trying by every means to artificially heighten political and social tensions in Albania. Using the trial of Fatos Nano, former Prime Minister of the corrupt communist government, as a pretext, the PS leaders are trying to implement their revanchist strategy for retaking power. This strategy, based on calls for terror, dragging people through the streets and smashing skulls, aims to overthrow and use violence against the democratic state. Through phantom petitions and calls for rallies and illegal actions, PS leaders are trying to create a false picture of the electoral forces, at a time when the ballot boxes have shown that the majority of the Albanian electorate stands with the PD. Those who shout every day about the “rule of law” have, at the heart of their strategy, precisely the destruction of that state, the violation of the law and social clashes, because, having failed to take power democratically, they have built a strategy to seize it by force. But they must not forget that those who voted for democracy and against communism on 22 March will not allow the communist abyss to return to Albania by force. The PD calls on all Albanians to oppose this destabilizing strategy. It reminds them once again that the Nano case is merely a pretext for achieving the aims of left-wing extremism and covering up the sins of their 50 years in power. The PD also calls on honest socialists, and especially Euro-socialists, who are the ones capable of making a genuine party, not to fall victim to the strategy of left-wing extremism. The PD assures its electorate and all Albanians that it is determined to carry through to the end the mandate given to it by the people and, by rigorously enforcing the law, will never allow left-wing extremist forces to find ground on which to carry out their strategy. TIRANA, 2 March 1994 That the nostalgics, with crooked republican caps and faded overcoats of the state-security type, should bare their teeth at the young people. If they dare do such a thing, if the Don Quixotes bring out their filthy, rusty basins to put on their heads, we will show them that the blood of December ’90, February ’91, April 2, and the 50 years of dictatorship has not faded from our eyes. That our hatred and determination to eradicate it at its roots… Today, the tolerance of the Democratic Government, the tolerance of those who endured prisons and killings for 50 years, the tolerance of all Albanians, aims to create a society without hatred and revenge, a truly democratic society. But it seems there are those who take this for weakness and think they can reclaim their criminal, filthy armchairs by dividing Albania once again. No true Albanian will allow this; no one will allow towers to be raised in Albania to crime and corruption. Let the PS keep the days of shame for itself. EDI PALOKA

In a statement by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Order, it is said that various left-wing extremist forces, through their newspapers and especially the PS with “ZP,” continuously call for and incite illegal gatherings. These calls, which are now being made on the eve of the trial of Fatos Nano, Ramiz Alia and the other former communist leaders, have increased considerably. The Ministry of Public Order announces that it will act with the full force of the law against anyone seeking to put pressure on the Albanian judiciary, which has independent and inviolable authority. At the same time, it undertakes to guarantee the judicial authorities order, calm and stability, so that their lawful activities can proceed as normally as possible. All violators are also warned that they will answer before the law, whoever they may be. Spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Order

Following the agreement on cultural and scientific cooperation signed this morning, two more agreements were signed this afternoon between the Republic of Albania and the Republic of Croatia, in the presence of Presidents Berisha and Tuxhman. The agreement on Croatian investment in tourism, signed by the respective tourism ministers, Edmond Spaho and Niko Bulic, provides, among other things, for the establishment of several tourist facilities on our coast. Afterwards, the Director of the National Hydrocarbons Agency, Fatos Kërçiku, and his Croatian counterpart, Franja Gregoriç, signed the agreement on the exploration, development and production of hydrocarbons on land. This is the first agreement Albania has signed for onshore oil exploration and the first of its kind following five agreements with other companies for offshore exploration. …ujët e fundit, after five agreements with other companies for offshore exploration.