Inspired by Enver Hoxha’s writings and socialist realism in “art,” Tosi decided to remain silent before the court and not reveal a single secret to the enemy! For as long as Tosi worked and was nurtured at the Institute of Marxist-Leninist Studies by the Queen Bee Nexhmije, he clearly saw that “communists do not surrender” and that “there is no fortress communists cannot take.” On the basis of these two great truths of the farsighted and victorious Marxist-Leninist ideology, Tosi decided to keep silent and win. He is convinced that silence is the best eloquence and that they do not say for nothing that silence is golden. Well, is there any metal more precious or more coveted? That is what Tosi, the child of father Enver and mother Queen Nexhmije, coveted too. Who can deny Tosi’s “oratorical” acrobatics? Nobody. By now everyone knows well that he is capable of competing with the tales of “One Thousand and One Nights.” There is just one difference: in those tales there is substance, whereas with Tosi you find nothing but absurdity. But, after all, it is a skill to tell stories for a thousand and one nights and say nothing. Tosi does that masterfully. But this time Tosi did not even want to be a storyteller. He decided to be silent, silent as a fish in water. I think he will get across the river this way. Poor Tosi: this time neither the tales of One Thousand and One Nights nor the example of Scheherazade, who saved her life with her stories, came to his aid. Tosi knows very well that, in any case, he is no longer risking his head, so he could not copy Scheherazade’s example mechanically. What would a Tosi-Scheherazade be, anyway? No! He preferred

—Interview with Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi— QUESTION: The Meksi government is reaching the halfway point of its term. How satisfied is Meksi himself with his government, or, more precisely, with the results of its work? Mr Aleksander Meksi: It is true that two years of democracy in Albania have passed since the victory of 22 March. The government has not yet reached two years, since it was formed on 19 April; you can come around mid-April and congratulate us on our second anniversary. Am I satisfied with the government? I feel satisfied with the things we believe we have done well for our country, for the Albanian people and for the nation, and which are generally accepted and appreciated by the people themselves as a whole. So we can say that there is reason to take pride in what we have done, just as there is reason to look at what we have not done. When will that be ready? Mr Aleksander Meksi: The Constitutional Commission, which I chair, has been criticized over this. Work on the constitution is generally under way, but it must be understood that there are also a number of difficulties, and the commission needs to reach broad consensus in order to present a draft acceptable to all political forces. The government should not be involved in this, but Albania has a number of constitutional provisions that form the backbone of a future constitution; these provisions were drawn up on the basis of all the advanced Western constitutions. Therefore, I do not think that the absence of a constitution has been an obstacle. Certainly, it is a reason for criticism, but in my opinion the delay in the constitution is not an obstacle. Mr Aleksander Meksi: I think that a genuine opposition does not exist in Albania. There are opponents, and, let us say, enemies. For today’s opposition, the government is an enemy element?! And so is the mentality of yesterday, which must be eliminated, not opposed; there should not be other obsions put forward, but better solutions, useful for Albania, which, I believe, must be above everything for all political forces. I think that if we had had an active opposition—not in the sense of demonstrations in the streets to overthrow the government or extraordinary demands for the government’s resignation, but in the sense of other obsions and proposals for Albania’s good—things would have gone better. A realistic opposition would have been more useful for Albania, I think. QUESTION: What are the government’s short- and long-term objectives? Mr Aleksander Meksi: The government’s short-term objectives are in the direction of privatization and restructuring enterprises; in the direction of infrastructure, including roads and telecommunications; and in the areas of housing and water supply. The long-term objectives are, of course, the creation of a fully functioning state governed by the rule of law, a complete body of laws for a market economy, and a fully developed free-market economy. All this, together with raising standards to the level of Europe, cannot be achieved in a day; it takes time. And we want to work toward this. Democracy is not to blame for these things, nor can the blame be laid at its door. If they can find the strength, let them break away from these shadows. If not, let them all suffer from these merciless co-dictators whom their own existence has created. Qenjithska here is somewhat ... our country, for the Albanian people, for the nation, and these benefits to feel proud of look at what we have not done. As for the results, they are numerous, but I would single out: abolishing the 80 percent levy, the greatest inherited scourge; liberalizing prices; privatizing housing; beginning the privatization of large enterprises; developing agriculture; stopping the economic decline; increasing investment; and restructuring a new democratic state, a process that cannot be completed in one year or even in another legislature of this kind. QUESTION: Is there any “sin” that could bring shame on the Meksi government after these two years? Mr Aleksander Meksi: Usually, it is other people who find the “sins” and “shames”; the government does not find them itself. Is that not so? In any case, we cannot say that we have made no mistakes, but also do not forget the volume of work the government has had to handle, having to start many things almost from scratch. Would you like me to list the mistakes? QUESTION: No. There is no need, because our newspaper has pointed out your mistakes in a timely manner and you have reflected on them, hasn’t it? Now, can the Prime Minister tell us how he sees the government’s second two-year period, which also marks its coming of age? Mr Aleksander Meksi: In general, we think the second half will be better than the one that has passed, in the sense that, among other things, we will also enjoy the fruits of these two years in every respect: in experience, results, difficulties, assistance, the beginnings of processes, and so on. We are optimistic, like most people who believe in a better future, because they are beginning to enjoy the fruits of the harvest. QUESTION: Mr Prime Minister, one of the issues that has drawn criticism concerns Preç Zogaj and his associates; and all those whose pseudonyms are recorded in the State Security files as his former collaborators should not be afraid—otherwise their souls would leave their bodies, and democracy would no longer be democracy. People like that, who once zealously performed services for to fear democracy. Nor do they have reason to accuse democracy. Their fear is only they committed

Glos: We are glad that democracy is moving forward... We know your difficult path... Our help will continue to be available to you. On Monday afternoon, at the headquarters of the PDSH, the Chairman of the DP, Mr Eduart Selami, and the Secretary General, Mr Tritan Shehu, received a high-level parliamentary and party delegation from the German Christian Social Union, headed by Mr Michael Glos, Chairman of the Christian Social Parliamentary Group in the German Bundestag. After the customary greetings, the Chairman of the PDSH, Mr Eduard Selami, took the floor and began by highlighting the contribution and support that Germany and the CDU and CSU (the Christian Democratic Union and the Christian Social Union), and especially Mr Kohl and Mr Huber, have given Albania and the PDSH since its establishment. Precisely because of these friendly attitudes, as well as the historical analysis of relations between the two countries, the Democratic Party—and consequently the Meksi government—consider Albania’s relations with Germany a priority. “We want these relations to grow stronger, and every opportunity exists for that.” Mr Selami then gave a brief overview of democratic developments and political, economic and social reforms in Albania, emphasizing achievements in respect for human rights, political stability, rates of growth in overall production, the creation of modern legislation, privatization, economic reforms, and so on. The real improvement in the indicators in the areas mentioned above, Mr Selami stressed, has been accompanied by increased public support, confirmed not only by ongoing meetings and conversations with people, but also by opinion polls and sociological surveys conducted by recognized international institutions. For his part, the Chairman of the CSU parliamentary group, Mr Michael Glos, thanked Mr Selami for his informative remarks and congratulated him on the achievements of Albanian democracy, which had also been appreciated by other German friends. “Of course, there will be difficulties too,” Mr Glos continued, “especially for you, who are emerging from a long period of self-isolation and communist dictatorship. But your beginnings are very promising.” “The German Christian Democrats and Christian Socialists,” Mr Glos noted, referring to history, “are known as parties that brought about Germany’s economic development, and we believe our experience and assistance, which will continue to be available to you in the future, will be of interest to you.” “We know and appreciate your role in revitalizing the German economy,” Mr Selami emphasized, “and we hope to do the same in Albania. We are striving, and so far have succeeded, with economic reform; for its achievements we are grateful, undoubtedly also for your experience and assistance, which we value especially.” Mr Selami also responded to the questions of the other members of the delegation, Mr Christian Schmidt and Dr. Friedrich, about the organization and functioning of the PDSH and its links with other European and international parties of the same political spectrum. Both sides agreed on the importance of strengthening reciprocal relations between the two parties, which would certainly contribute to the further development of the already very good relations between the two countries. The German parliamentarians also met with the Foreign Minister, Mr Serreqi, and the Minister of Defence, Mr Zhulali.

To the Minister of Public Order, Mr Agron Musaraj To the Minister of Justice, Mr Kudret Çela To the Head of the National Intelligence Service, Mr Bashkim Gazidede For the information of: the Chairman of the State Committee for Political Persecutees, Mr Ypi In recent days in the Saranda district, amid the heated political climate unleashed by extreme left-wing forces, terror has been openly felt through acts involving the use of explosives at the homes of families of political persecutees and of those who were among the first to embrace democratic processes. Dynamite was planted at the home of Ms Sabrije Peta, secretary of the Saranda municipal council and a member of the governing committee of the Saranda branch of the DP; at the home of Mr Nebi Çika, a former persecutee and editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Saranda”; at the home of Mr Minella Boçi, a former persecutee and chairman of the association of former political and economic persecutees, former kulaks; and in other incidents in the villages of Lukove and Shenvasi in this district. These acts have outraged the entire population of the Saranda district, and especially the former persecutees, against whom venom was also spewed from the platform of the Socialist Party rally for the Saranda district, where the release of Fatos Nano was demanded. Those who inflicted irreparable wounds on us for 50 years now seek to destroy us further by waging the class struggle clandestinely. We call on the competent bodies of the rule-of-law state to uncover this clandestine hand and restore the peace and harmony that we have always wanted and continue to want. We are, and will remain, law-abiding citizens of the democratic state, and we condemn every incitement to fratricidal conflict by extremists of any kind. We have suffered enough. Uncovering and punishing these terrorists is in the interests of the democracy we are establishing. We await concrete action. FOR THE SARANDA DISTRICT BRANCH OF THE ASSOCIATION OF POLITICAL PERSECUTEES CHAIRMAN BASHKIM KODHIMA FOR THE SARANDA BRANCH KULAKS CHAIRMAN MINELLA BOCI State Committee for Political Persecutees Saranda Branch INSPECTOR RAKIP HADERI

with her stories, came to his aid. Perhaps Tosi knows very well that, in any case, he no longer risks his head, and therefore be, anyway? No! He preferred a Tosi half-fish and half-human, a siren that does not speak but from time to time, as if by magic, emits some strange, disorienting sounds that lead its victim straight to death without hesitation. After all, as our glorious and immortal leader, Comrade Enver, taught us, Marxism-Leninism is not a template but a creative theory. That is why Tosi makes his choice: the silence of the siren-Tosi, certain that communists know no losses, know no defeats, and were born only to go from victory to victory. Lucky the party that has him; lucky Enver that he left him behind! With his words in silence, Tosi will surely continue to fill the unpublished works of the “father,” even though they may meet the same fate as the published ones and end up as wrapping paper on the carts of the glass collectors. It may all seem absurd here! Perhaps—but what more can Tosi do? Former persecutors are haunted by the shadow of persecution. Spies, agents, witnesses in political trials, collaborators with the former State Security, people who for one reason or another, by force or willingly, for gain or career, through lack of dignity or out of fear, were deeply sullied by the machinery of crime during the dictatorship—the shadow of that machinery still follows them. Although democracy has shown them tolerance for the sake of a great ideal, for the sake of a new Albania definitively separated from the murky past, and for the sake of the security and future of generations, they cannot be at peace. Perhaps their conscience will not let them rest and demands that they live with them. Perhaps the old hands will not leave them in peace and order them to act, spreading lies and creating a false image of Albanian democracy, portraying it as complicit in persecution and crime. In this country there was a series... Preç Zogaj recently published a hallucination or absurdity called “The Alliance.” From what Zogaj himself writes, it is clear that he is very afraid. According to him, in the final stages the dictator was following him, Preç, only because someone else was also using the enemy’s collective ... and because the candidate for power takes responsibility from him, and his own ... always follows him, having received a mandate, where his judgment is concealed without any doubt, where? ... We have had occasion ... Zogaj ... “The Alliance” ... Preç Zogaj and his friends pass by; and all those who have their pseudonyms recorded in the Security files as its old collaborators should not be afraid, nor should the whole thing ... otherwise their souls would leave them and democracy would no longer be democracy. People like these, who once zealously rendered services to what was called the dictatorship, in fact have no reason to fear democracy. Nor do they have any reason to accuse democracy. Their only fear is their own shadow, the shadow of the shame and crime they committed

—What does Nano say in an interview with “Dita Informacion”? —Nano has tried to change Albanians’ “wrong” mentality about culinary arts, even today trying to convince them that pea juice is more nutritious than meat and milk. —Nano belongs to that social group which considers crime legal, since he declares that all those who come from the judiciary to the dock are on the side of truth. So far Nano has not opened his mouth to speak about the case he is accused in, and there is a reason for that. The one time he “made a mistake” and spoke, he exposed the absurdity of his defense arguments. Nevertheless, Nano has “made a mistake” again by answering questions from the newspaper “Dita Informacion”; his answers once again leave him exposed. Asked, following R.Alia’s testimony, what Nano could say specifically about that testimony, he said it was “the response of a statesman who... has worked devotedly. So his statements were honest.” Despite the journalist’s insistence on something more concrete regarding R.Alia’s testimony and the facts that were coming to his attention from Levante Co and being relayed to Nano, Fatos stuck to the statement that Alia had worked devotedly. Nevertheless, further on Nano “makes a mistake.” Asked whether he had made an effort to prevent Levante Co from handling the aid, Nano says, “this issue was raised.” So despite the warnings he had received, and despite the violations and the invoices, Nano still insists today that changing Lev Co was out of the question. One of the points this trial was seeking to resolve was precisely this, which Nano openly admits. Nano goes even further into his “blunder,” trying to justify the arrival of goods that nobody needed. In short, in the interview he tries to convince people that the goods Albania needed during that emergency period were precisely those brought by Lev. Co. Here is what he says: “If I were on trial, I would have asked Ribertin (Qarrin) whether, if his family were in a state of emergency and actually starving, he would prefer powdered milk or canned fish. I’m sure he would choose the fish.” That is how Nano speaks, openly defending what has been proven to have been a manipulation. First, this was not simply a question of fish or powdered milk; it was a question of thousands upon thousands of tons of peas, etc., which replaced meat, cheese and milk. Perhaps Nano would prefer to give his children boiled-pea juice instead of milk, but surely nobody else would choose that. This may also be a “question of mentality,” as Nano puts it: “Albanians did not understand the West,” and in the West they “love” boiled-pea juice. Lev Co and those “needs” happened to match the stocks in Lev Co’s warehouses. In this way Nano solved two problems: changing the Albanians’ culinary mentality by adapting it to the “Western mentality,” and emptying Lev Co’s warehouses while filling its pockets. What is Nano’s fault if Albanians do not understand that dried peas are more nutritious than meat? Nano’s blunders in the Dita Informacion interview continue. Asked whether he claims to be on the side of truth, Nano replies: “Of course, otherwise I would not be in the dock.” There you have the bad logic: to claim that one is in a position to make a psychological distinction. According to him, all those who are in (Continued on page 4) a future constitution, whose provisions have been drawn up on the basis of all accepted a reason for criticism, but in my opinion it is not an impediment. Questions in an interview with Mr R.Alise about what he could say specifically regarding those testimonies: Nano says they were “the responses of a statesman who… worked with dedication. His statements were therefore R.Alise’s testimony and the facts that had reached him from Levante Co and were had worked with dedication. had tried that “this issue was raised.” Thus, and invoices brought to his attention, Nano still insists today that changing Lev Co was never even discussed. One of the points this process acknowledges. Nano goes even further in he says: “If I had been involved in the trial, I would have asked Riberti (Qarri) and actually starving, he would prefer powdered milk or cans of fish. I am sure he would choose the fish.” That is what Nano says, manipulation. First, this was not simply a matter of fish or powdered milk; it was a matter of thousands upon thousands of tons of peas and other goods that took the place of else would prefer that. This may also be a “matter the West,” and in the West people “die for” boiled-pea juice. NANO’S “PIE” LAYERS ARE REVEALED. PRESIDENT ALIA LET THE AGREEMENT BE FOR OUR BENEFIT DINO.

QUESTION: Is there any “sin” that could bring shame on the Meksi government after these two years?