The President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha, will take part in the summit of heads of state and government of the participating countries of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, which will be held in Budapest on 5 and 6 December. This high-level meeting is expected to discuss issues of European security, regional cooperation and the future of the CSCE institutions. The participation of the Albanian President in this meeting is considered important for presenting Albania’s positions in European forums and for strengthening contacts with leaders of other participating countries.

The shameful propaganda games to refute anti-government activity in the run-up to the referendum are now clear to public opinion. Together with extremist political voices, the PS circulated its statement on several events that had taken place in the country. What was called a “revelation” was nothing more than a repetition of long-standing slanders made in this direction by some segments of the left-wing press. Trying to create the impression of a climate of destabilization, the PS gathered and served up scraps of separate information, giving them a tendentious political interpretation. In its statement, the PS tried to present as “facts” events that in reality have either been investigated or are completely untrue. For public opinion, this way of doing politics is nothing other than evidence of the lack of an alternative and of the crisis of opposition thinking. When a political force cannot convince with a program, it chooses to stir confusion with slander. The PS continues to manipulate isolated cases of ordinary crime, dressing them up with political overtones. This attempt not only does not help democratic normality, but aims to create panic and artificial insecurity. Albanian citizens are now more aware than ever of who benefits from an atmosphere of tension and who works for the stability of the country. Instead of distancing itself from the violent acts of extremist elements, the PS seems to use them as political material. This is damaging to the democratic process and unacceptable for a force that claims power. Albania needs honest debate, not propaganda scenarios. In the end, the PS’s so-called revelation statement revealed nothing new. It showed only that this party continues to live with the illusion that it can replace a program with insinuations and an alternative with gossip. That is precisely where its deep political and intellectual crisis lies.

Interview prepared by Ilir Zhili with the deputy minister of PDSH, Mr. Ylli Shehu Within the framework of efforts to strengthen relations between Albania and Italy, the deputy minister of PDSH, Mr. Ylli Shehu, gave an interview in which he assessed the contacts and cooperation so far between the two countries. He stressed that Albania has a special interest in expanding economic, political and cultural cooperation with Italy. According to him, the new Albanian-Italian relations should be based on mutual interest and reciprocal respect. Italy, he said, remains an important partner for Albania’s European integration and for encouraging investment. The interview also discussed the need for closer institutional cooperation, for facilitating contacts between entrepreneurs, and for bringing the two peoples closer together further. The role of the political factor in creating a stable climate of cooperation was also underlined. Mr. Shehu assessed the contribution that political and social structures can make to intensifying this relationship, stressing that a wise foreign policy directly serves the country’s development.

Flamur Tomorri, one of the PS officials, has become the target of accusations of abuse and unlawful gains, but Socialist leaders have tried to portray the matter as a political attack. In reality, according to published sources, this is a typical case of an attempt to cover up the responsibility of one of its own officials. The PS cannot claim political morality when it defends people implicated in dubious affairs and when it refuses to provide convincing explanations to the public. Instead of transparency, it chooses obscurity and propaganda. Corruption is not fought with declarations, but with a clear stance toward concrete cases. Hiding and protecting those responsible seriously compromises the credibility of a political force that seeks the trust of citizens.

Recently, the public has become aware of a series of cases of violence and threats, which according to various sources are linked to the activities of some extremist elements. Faced with these developments, the silence of the PS leaders has become increasingly incomprehensible. Instead of giving clear explanations and distancing themselves from acts that go against democratic rules, the Socialist leaders have chosen to remain silent. This behavior raises serious questions as to whether we are dealing with an inability to control their own structures or with silent tolerance toward them. The public expects a clear statement: do the leaders of the PS condemn these acts, and do they bear political responsibility for the climate they foster? So far, the lack of a reaction only increases suspicion and worsens the public standing of this political force.

The Foreign Minister of Albania took part in the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the North Atlantic Cooperation Council, where issues related to regional security, political cooperation and relations with Euro-Atlantic structures were discussed. At this forum, the importance of Albania’s participation in international cooperation mechanisms and the need to deepen reforms that bring the country closer to Western standards were assessed. Participation in such meetings is seen as an important step in orienting Albanian foreign policy toward Euro-Atlantic integration.

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