Eduard Selami, Tritan Shehu, Flutura Hasko, eagerly awaited guests in Libofshë - The PS believes in fantastic promises, the DP in awareness of the changes in Libofshë over the past 2 years. - Eduard Selami, Tritan Shehu, Flutura Hasko, eagerly awaited guests in Libofshë THE PEOPLE OF LIBOFSHË: REALISTIC ABOUT THE PRESENT, OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE -The PS believes in fantastic promises, the DP in awareness of the changes in Libofshë over the past 2 years.- Libofshë, like several other communes in the country, has become the focus of the election campaign for the commune-chairman elections that are to be held. The political parties have mobilized in this campaign to achieve their common goal: victory. However, they are using different means to achieve that goal. Through its campaign groups, the PS prefers promises of pie in the sky, assuming it can deceive the people of Libofshë into believing it once again, as it did for 50 years. The DP, meanwhile, is using as its argument the voters’ good sense and the Libofshë villagers’ own reference to today’s reality: the appearance of the village as a result of its governance. We would not be wrong to say that Libofshë has seen significant developments over these two years. As a result of the implementation of the land law, every rural family is now the owner of a certain amount of land. Each person works their own land, reaping the fruits of their labor. The population’s diet has improved considerably. In addition to family consumption, produce is also destined for the market, where—thanks to price liberalization—it brings in substantial income; above all, this liberalization has stimulated their interest in producing more. Thirty cars, 12 ovens, 3 private buses—these are now among the things the Libofshë villager dreams of owning. The paved road, a secure supply of drinking water—whereas in previous years Libofshë relied on well water—and continuous electricity thanks to the installation of new transformers, together with agricultural machinery: all of these, totaling 100 million lekë, represent another area in which Libofshë benefited from the Democratic Government. Above all, the DP shows that it deserves the vote of the people of Libofshë by putting forward a serious candidate with a good reputation, connected to the people and respected by them, and with unquestionably greater experience than his rival nominated by the PS. It is very difficult to find anyone in the Libofshë area who has even one bad word to say about Nikollaq Filipi. This 35-year-old veterinary doctor, with his character and authority, has won declared votes even from socialists. “They showed that they are a serious party,” said one socialist when he learned that the DP candidate was Nikollaq Filipi. “I have to vote for him,” said another socialist, thereby expressing an individual’s responsibility in casting a vote—a decision that, alongside an assessment of the political force, requires an even greater assessment of the actual person with whom they will have direct dealings. The person whose door they will knock on whenever they have a problem or difficulty. Libofshë has undergone positive changes. But what are its residents aware of? How do they see these changes and the prospects—the “future” in which they believe? “I worked in the kitchen during the cooperative years and couldn’t get 200 grams of milk, whereas today I have all the good things,” a member of Pandi Ndreko’s family told Mr. Edvard Selami. “He is selling his new house. There are difficulties, but everything will be sorted out.” Pali Ndreko said the same. In the village of Vanaj, all the residents had come out to welcome Eduart Selami, Tritan Shehu, Flutura Hasko, and the area’s MP, Uazar Llengu. “For 50 years, none of the officials from those days ever came here, unable to fulfill our wish, so good for you for coming,” said Naile Ternova. Everyone wanted the guests to be welcomed into their homes as well, and Mr. Selami and the others went into the home of Halit Krasniqi, a former socialist family that is now a member of the DP. [The following passage is unclear in the source:] “For a … that we had come, my … and although I did not remove it, they … Haliti’s market …” And in a moment of sincere and natural gathering, 90-year-old Riza Kelmendi, with his humor and wisdom, added even more warmth to the conversation. “There’s no point discussing things that aren’t up for discussion,” he said about the elections. “The DP deserves to win, because it has proven itself over two years. And the person it has put forward as a candidate is respected.” In a few days, elections will be held in Libofshë. The people of Libofshë will know how to weigh the reasons they have to show their support for the DP and its candidate, Nikollaq Filipi, with their votes. SHPETIM LUKU …having feigned his interest in increasing production. 30 cars, 12 ovens, 3 private buses—these vehicles are now presented as the property of the village center of Libofshar. The road is paved, drinking water is provided, whereas Libofsha had consumed well water in previous years. But what is the awareness of its residents? The achievement without them and the prospects, the future? It is being implemented here. I worked in the cooperative kitchen and couldn’t find 200 grams of milk. In a few days, elections will be held in Libofshe too. The people of Libofshe will know how to assess the reasons they have to honor the DP and its candidate, Nikolla Filipi, with their vote. SHPETIM LUKU

President Berisha expressed his deep gratitude to the region of Puglia, which, like the entire Italian people, has helped and continues to help Albania and the Albanians working in Italy with great humanitarian feeling and generosity. We greatly value cooperation with Italy, the first country to stand by Albania in difficult times, and which today continues to be its foremost partner in economic cooperation. We also value cooperation with your region, and I have insisted on this within the framework of the European Union as well. There are many opportunities for our cooperation to include various sectors, such as infrastructure, tourism, etc. I am convinced that the agreements just signed will put our relations on a new footing. Mr. Marta Lota congratulated President Berisha on Albania’s achievements on the path of reform and said that the region of Puglia views Albania as a reliable partner with which it has not only geographical and historical ties, but also shared economic interests. We appreciate your Government’s willingness to cooperate with us, and we are determined to make this cooperation concrete. The signing of today’s agreements marks an important step in this direction. At this meeting, President Berisha praised the very warm words that Foreign Minister Mr. Martino had expressed about Albania. “I want to assure you,” President Berisha said, “that the Government and the Albanian people share the same friendly feelings and desire for closer cooperation. Without denying what the previous Italian Government has done so far in cooperating with Albania, I am very optimistic that, with the new Italian Government, relations between our two friendly peoples will see more intensive and friendly development.” Press and Information Office of the President

Letters of thanks and greetings have been received by the Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Mr. Pjeter Arbnori, from the President of the Senate and the President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Republic of Italy. Letters of thanks and greetings have been received by the Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Mr. Pjeter Arbnori, the Chamber of Deputies of the Republic of Italy. In her letter, Ms. Irene Pireti writes, among other things: “I share the wish for relations between our two parliaments to ensure the uninterrupted development of our fruitful cooperation. I assure you of my energetic commitment and extend my very best wishes for the successful fulfillment of your important duty.” Press and Information Office of the People’s Assembly Press and Information Office attached to the People’s Assembly

Ramiz Alia, Albania’s last communist president, and nine former senior officials of the communist regime are to appear in court today, accused of crimes committed while they were still in power. Alia, 68, and three others—former Prime Minister Adil Çarçani, his deputy Manush Myftiu, and former Vice-President Rita Marko—face charges of abuse of power and misuse of state funds, [unclear in source: “rune dhe duke zyretaret e gjykates”]. Former Interior Ministers Hekuran Isai and Simon Stefani face the same charges, and have also been accused of violating citizens’ rights. Aranit Çela, former president of the Supreme Court; Rrapi Mino, former chief prosecutor; Zylyftar Ramizi, former deputy interior minister; and Veiz Haderi, commander of a border post, face charges of abuse of power.

The Tirana District Prosecutor’s Office ordered the arrest of citizens Thaodhori Bezhani, Irakli Sima and Kosta Qirja, residents of Gjirokaster; Vangjel Paparisto, resident of Sarande; and Panajot Marto and Kosta Cavo, residents of Delvine, according to a statement from the District Prosecutor’s Office. The aforementioned defendants are accused of committing the criminal offenses of illegal possession of weapons, provided for under Article 224 of the Criminal Code, and of maintaining links with the Greek secret services. They are also accused of committing other unlawful acts that constitute violations of our constitutional order with regard to the territorial integrity of the Republic of Albania. Their arrest, the statement notes, was made on the basis of a report submitted by the Public Order authorities.

Now that Nano’s trial is beginning in the second instance, “ZP” has started repeating its articles, not even changing the headlines. Thus: “Nano is innocent.” “Nano’s trial is political,” and so on. I am quite convinced that it has understood how tiresome something becomes when it is repeated constantly, but it has not understood that the effect created by tiresome things is not what they expect. Instead of “sensitizing” readers this way (and they believe they are doing so), they only irritate them and make them say: “Why are they boring us with this Nano? Enough of Nano.” Even those who have been getting “ZP” free for a long time (“ZP” has been distributed free more widely than any other newspaper) seem to have become fed up. On this occasion, I would give “ZP” a piece of advice (seriously). Instead of taking up again the issue of his allegedly unjust “education” as a deputy, why not take up another deputy and tell us (if it knows) that his name is Betino Kraksi. At least that would make things more interesting (and in the process, it would not deny them the right to try Kraksi before the Italian courts, or even Demeti). If “ZP” does not know where Kraksi is, let it ask the chairman, who knows everything. E.P.

At the plenary session on the afternoon of the day before yesterday, Prime Minister Aleksander Meksi answered questions submitted by the PS parliamentary group concerning the situation in Kukes and the measures the government is taking to address the problem of meeting the demands of residents in areas flooded by Lake Fierza. After providing information on developments and events in Kukes over the previous days, Prime Minister Meksi stressed that this is a complex problem and not an easy one to resolve. Nevertheless, the government immediately took the necessary measures and established a commission to assess the situation not only in Kukes but also in other areas of the country facing similar problems. He also emphasized the government’s commitment to meeting those demands on which agreement has been reached. At the same plenary session, Minister of Foreign Affairs Alfred Serreqi answered questions from deputies Perikli Teta and Arben Imami concerning the actions of the ambassadors of the Republic of Albania in Sweden. Bardhyl Kokalan, the former ambassador to Sweden, is leaving his post, Mr. Serreqi said, conscious of the responsibilities arising from the mistake he made by requesting political asylum in Sweden for an Albanian citizen in the country where he was accredited. He also stressed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had made no attempt to conceal the facts about this incident. RD CORRESPONDENT

In Reç, in all the villages of this commune, campaigning is under way ahead of the elections for commune chairman, with groups from various parties, including the DP and SP, accompanied by deputies and journalists. The Minister of Labour and Social Support, Mr. Dashamir Shehi, is one of the DP’s prominent figures who held several meetings with residents of Kraj-Reç, Zall-Reç and Urdhe-Reç. His conversations are measured and highly communicative. The villagers of Reç commune had criticisms of the work of the government and local authorities. (Continued on page 2)

- Their deliberate march from one mistake to another, from one crime to another - The objective: an anemic Albania facing powerful chauvinist neighbors The freshest manifesto of Enverist continuity from the PS vice-chairman, Servet Pellumbi, is the one published in “Dita Informacion” on May 15. Here he badly exposes himself even with the brief statement: “People should be held legally accountable when they have committed a crime, and not for the historical responsibility they bear for the failure of an alternative, of a particular system.” Pellumbi’s message is clear: not only Ramiz Alia, but E. Hoxha too should not be held legally accountable and should not be punished for the failure of their alternatives and their system. But comrade Servet deliberately sidesteps or forgets to analyze the causes of this failure. He “acknowledges” some serious mistakes by Hoxha and Alia, but does not dwell on the reasons behind these premeditated, conscious historical mistakes. He briefly lists three or four of their mistakes. But if you delve into the analysis, it is not difficult to understand that the chain of mistakes made by the architects of socialism on paper is very long. What is the first link in the chain of Enver Hoxha’s historical mistakes and crimes? Perhaps it was rejecting the Mukje Agreement. We could go back two years earlier, to November 8, 1941, when the PKSH’s midwives and nursemaids were the missionaries of the PKJ. Then came the tying of the Albanian cart to the Soviet caravan of carts rather than to Western cars; the flirtations and divorces with Yugoslav, Soviet and Chinese comrades, to which R. Alia also made a distinct, historic contribution. When all our Eastern allies proved unfaithful, why did we not seek to turn to the West? Why was the most tragic and fatal mistake made—complete isolation and theoretical reliance on our own strength? Why did they make us enemies of the world and of ourselves? Enver Hoxha and R. Alia were the ideologues and strategists of the infamous class struggle, which was nothing less than a bloody, purely medieval and anti-Albanian campaign of genocide. They were the theorists and leaders of the process of total collectivization, more extreme than in any other Eastern country. They devised and led the industrialization platform, orienting it toward massive projects dependent on imported raw materials, giants to the eye but Lilliputian in terms of state finances and the people’s pockets. The 750,000 bunkers help us continue to identify Enver Hoxha’s and R. Alia’s mistakes and crimes: they swallowed up billions and left hundreds of thousands of Albanian families in apartments like chicken coops or in makeshift shelters. The hardships caused for many years by irregularities and shortages in the water and electricity supply help us too. The “gigantic” hydroelectric plants built by E. Hoxha had been planned to provide electricity only for lighting, an iron for ironing, a radio (Continued on page 4) Gezua Ramiz! For the complete fulfillment of the mission entrusted to us!

Addressed to Muslim believers on the occasion of the blessed holiday of Kurban Bajram I extend my heartfelt wishes to all Albanian Muslim believers, in Albania and wherever they may be: “Many happy returns of Kurban Bajram.” The day of Kurban Bajram is a blessed holiday of sacrifice in the name of faith in God, of love for one another, and in the name of mercy, forgiveness, peace, kindness, and harmony. On this day, Muslim believers pray to God and, with deep devotion, give thanks to Him for having stood by them and all their Albanian brothers and sisters of other faiths, wherever they may be. The day of Kurban Bajram is the blessed day of the individual’s duty to obey God’s command, for unity, tolerance, and well-being. On this day, people honor sacrifice and the devotion of themselves and others in the name of what is most magnificent, highest, most humane, and most precious. Respect and appreciation for one another’s sacrifices make people more united, more sincere, friendlier, and more brotherly. May God’s blessing and help be upon all Albanians and Albania. Once again, “Happy Kurban Bajram.” SALI BERISHA Tirana, 20.05.1994

Kurban Bajram, this great holiday of Muslims around the world, is a day of joy for all Albanians. On this occasion, I wish you all: “Many happy returns; may you always have goodness and prosperity!” EDUARD SELAMI Chairman of the Democratic Party of Albania We wish all Albanian Muslim believers and readers a happy Kurban Bajram, filled with joy and happiness! THE EDITORIAL STAFF OF “RILINDJA DEMOKRATIKE”

TODAY: R.ALIA AND FORMER SIX CITIZENS ARRESTED FOR ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF WEAPONS