The return of the communists to power would be a disaster for Albania The communists’ return to power would bring about a loss of confidence in Albania on the part of Western democracy, a confidence Albania urgently needs The PD is the main and largest anti-communist force in Albania We respect President Berisha’s colossal work in the democratic transformation of Albania Speech by Mr. Tritan Shehu at yesterday’s press conference with Mr. Gerd Langguth, chairman of the German “K. Adenauer” foundation It is a special pleasure for me today, at this press conference together with the chairman of the German “Konrad Adenauer” Foundation, Mr. Gerd Langguth, who is visiting Albania at the invitation of the Albanian Democratic Party. Mr. Langguth speaks to you clearly and closely, friend, and has made a valuable contribution in the field of political exchanges of the right, European issues, and above all to the promotion of democratic processes after the fall of the Berlin Wall. In particular, I want to take this opportunity to underline the great help he has given to the cause of democracy in Albania. The Konrad Adenauer Foundation is a symbol of the struggle against communism, a symbol of the triumph of the right. This foundation has very broad activity in over 100 countries of the world. Since its beginnings, the Albanian Democratic Party has felt at close hand the all-round and unconditional support of the Foundation in the various fields of our anti-communist activity, for building the rule of law, for consolidating the institutionalization of fragile Albanian democracy, for the development of reforms; it is worth emphasizing the ongoing cooperation since the creation of the PDSH, mutual visits, as well as the very valuable contribution this foundation has made to the training of PD cadres for more effective work with the electorate, for dedication and effectiveness at all levels of the Party’s work. We are grateful for the cooperation and continued support that friendly Germany has given for the promotion of democratic values in Albania, for the unconditional support that the CDU has given to the integration of the PDSH into European structures. As everyone knows, the Albanian Democratic Party is now a full member of the European Christian Democratic Union, the Youth Forum and DEMYC, and for these historic events in the consolidation of Albanian democracy, the German contribution is undoubtedly one of the most important. We view and value the opening of the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation liaison office in Tirana as a continuation of the encouraging and supportive integration of German democratic forces for the deepening of democratic processes in Albania, to prevent these processes from turning back. Then the chairman of the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation, Mr. Langguth, took the floor. We have found extraordinary support in Albania, he said. We know that we should not interfere in the internal politics of a country, we know how to respect mentalities and positions, but nevertheless we are very interested in supporting cooperation and, just as we carry out activities in many different countries of the world, so too are we carrying out our activity in Albania. We want to make our contribution so that the victory of democracy in Albania is stabilized. I would say that it is a disaster when you see that in former communist countries the former communist forces have not yet returned. It would be a bad thing if this were to happen in a country like Albania. I say this because your country seeks to create confidence in the Western world. A country like yours needs such necessary internal stabilization as a step toward a stable future, as your president has written, a stable country. I emphasize this because I have had the opportunity twice to meet Mr. Berisha and I expressed to him my admiration for the fact that very courageous decisions have been taken, decisions which are not always popular. We Germans understand very well how difficult it is to move from a communist society to a democratic society. As we know, we agree that this takes time. Only now, 5 years after the reunification of Germany, can we feel the economic upturn; the transition from a commanded society to a free society takes a great deal of time. I want to emphasize once again that a return of the former communist forces would destroy the confidence that has been created in the Western world and that the international organization of the opening of our foundation’s liaison office and where the representative of our office in Tirana, Mr. Dzimhani, we believe, will represent us with dignity. Likewise, his impressions and views on the development of democracy in Albania and the path it should follow were expressed by the representative of the regional office based in Sofia, Mr. Bossen. We have established contact with various parties in Albania; indeed, in 1992 we invited a delegation to Germany. The participants in this delegation were not only members of the PD but also of the PSD, to make contact and see what was best; but the PDSH is the largest political party, the one that sets the tone of the country’s life. I also respect the decisions of your president, Mr. Sali Berisha, who has had the courage, although this may destroy the possibility of a rapid democratic transformation of the country. Allow me once again to say that it is important to prevent the political tendencies of the old forces, because this would mean that with one blow the titanic work done so far to establish democracy would be destroyed. After the words of Messrs. Shehu, Langguth and Bossen, several questions were addressed by the journalists present. In response to the question of what concrete results this initiative from your Foundation will bring for the PDSH so that democracy in Albania can win again, Mr. Langguth replied that the Foundation and the CDU have drawn up broad plans of assistance and cooperation with the PDSH. For reasons of time I will not go into detail, Mr. Langguth stressed. The main thing is to support democratic development in your country. The PDSH is the largest and most powerful party in Albania, therefore it will remain our main partner; this party marks the greatest political force in Albania in order to prevent the communists’ return to power. Mr. Bossen, in addition to this answer, added that our Foundation is one of the five foundations that exist in Germany and we do not want to cover the entire political spectrum of Albania. We will focus on the PDSH. In response to the question of what importance the Party’s information policy has in this period, for example for the new elections, Mr. Langguth replied that I think the party that has governed for the most democratic changes. These changes require time up to economic recovery. It is important to make the people understand that the PDSH alternative is freedom and democracy, while the alternative of the former communist forces is a return, the opposite of conservatism, giving time to test whether they have learned lessons from history — concluded Mr. Langguth in the 20-minute press conference. Prepared by RUDINA XHUVANI MUJO BUÇPAPAJ

Interview with Mr. Pjeter Arbnori, Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly “Kadare, today as well as tomorrow, will honor the Albanian parliament as a member of any party whatsoever, or even as an independent” Question: Do you believe that this adopted law serves to consolidate democracy in Albania and to prevent any turning back of democratic processes? Answer: Parliament unanimously approved the law against the genocide carried out by the communist dictatorship, and this was one of the important tasks accomplished by Parliament. The reversal of democratic processes remains, in the absence of facts and a great effort to expose communism through facts, evidence, and the uncovering of archival documents, and without the adoption of concrete legislative measures. When you cross a raging river, you are quickly relieved and begin to stretch out the danger you have passed. People, fortunately but also unfortunately, forget quickly. Forgetfulness helps one move forward, but complete forgetfulness leads once again into a dead end. The Democratic Party and the right-wing forces had promised the people the punishment of genocide, and now they are opening the legal path to make it happen. If this law is properly implemented, we have a very serious guarantee that communism will no longer prevail in Albania. Question: The Socialists opposed the adoption of that law mainly by calling it unconstitutional and harmful to human rights and freedoms. But why, in your view, should this law be adopted? Answer: Usually the Socialists oppose everything proposed by the Democrats and always refer to the “Law on fundamental freedoms and human rights,” which they shamefully opposed in Parliament. The law against genocide, on the contrary, strengthens human freedoms and fundamental rights. Imagine if a snake, a tiger, or some other kind of wild beast suddenly came out of the Zoo. Shouldn’t we all unite to put it back in a harmless place?! The right to poison, bite, tear apart is never a human right. The purpose of the law is by no means revenge. We are precisely dealing with the main responsible persons, the ideologues, planners and order-givers of the class struggle, of that inhuman struggle which left everything Albanian insecure and afraid, even the simple communities that kept silent out of fear, as others were afraid to speak a single extra word. Only Enver Hoxha and a handful of beasts sought to trample freely on the people, and it is precisely against them that legal measures must be taken. Crimes against humanity are punished everywhere in the world and there is no statute of limitations for them. Why should we Albanians be so proud? I assure you that people will continue to be free in Albania, and at the same time the dimensions of freedom will continue to expand, but a certain narrow category of former functionaries of the dictatorship, of the State Security, and of their conscious collaborators must be denied the possibility of holding posts, whatever predetermined ones, however attractive they may be, whether democratic, social-democratic, or socialist. If, for a certain time, the participation of these people in politics and state life is limited, that benefits both the people and them: the people, in order to build a democratic life freely, and them, in order to have time for correction. Those who suffered will be free to denounce and prosecute their torturers, but only with proof and facts, only when they violated the laws of the dictatorship by killing without trial, torturing, etc. Today’s penal procedure code will protect them from any misuse. It is clear that members of the Political Bureau and the Central Committee of the PPSH, who conceived crimes against the people; members of the government who carried them out; and deputies who gave the crime a legal form by violating the constitution, must not be elected or appointed to high posts. What had the generals, commanders of the partisan brigades, who were killed and imprisoned without reason and who lived deformed and starved in labor camps, done to the communist leadership?! What had the writers, artists, painters, and priests who were massacred done?! Why should the places of worship, the irreplaceable values of our national culture, be destroyed?! Have the Socialists forgotten these grave crimes so quickly? Democracy will not do any of that; it will only clip the claws and teeth of the perpetrators of genocide. Question: Against the adoption of this law, the Socialists proposed, in order to prevent it, the name of our distinguished writer Ismail Kadare. What would be your comment? Answer: A part of the far left, and perhaps those who call themselves Socialists, always try to find shelter where it does not belong. I have not called Kadare a traitor, but they and only they have labeled him as such. Personally, I have said that Kadare would do better to stay here so that, through his personality, he could make a great contribution against the dictatorship, to the building of democracy, but during the period of monism he has also done much in Paris, fighting evil for our common good. I can say that he is the first among all writers who have made a real contribution to the dignified recognition of Albania as well as to the defense of the Kosovo issue. It is not by chance that we have included Article 3, according to which all those who have publicly departed from the official communist line have nothing whatsoever to do with this law. Kadare, today and tomorrow, will also honor the Albanian parliament as one of its members, whatever party he may belong to, or even as an independent. Those who oppose the law punishing genocide by using Kadare’s name are making a very bad mistake. Democracy is one and it accepts change. When Kadare dared to stand up to Nexhmije Hoxha, what he was doing then was very much what he is doing today; back then they were ready to disappear with one word from the dictator. Manol Kondori was Minister of Justice during the dictatorship, but today they oppose communist criminals in order not to be crushed by innocent people, for no reason at all. The more such people are honored, the more Albania is honored by their character. Question: The Socialists say they are different, meaning they are not the same people who continue the PPSH under a new name. So? What does their reality show about adopting a law that condemns the genocide carried out by the PPSH and its vanguard? Answer: I would wish them to be different from what they are, because that would be in their interest and in Albania’s. Fortunately, there are also good, untainted people among them. However, if they had leaned more toward the PK and the PPSH, they would have spared us the trouble; if they had exposed Enver Hoxha and his clique, they would have convinced us that they had renewed themselves. If they had worked together in economic activity, institutions and legislative reforms, Albania would be much better off. But I am convinced — and I do not doubt — that they will do this. In present-day life, one does not enter with half a mind; either one does well on the scale of virtue, or one remains idle. It was a matter of their position that they said they were against genocide while declaring that they approved the law against crimes against humanity. Despite their fury, I say that this law has done them good as well as us. For them, by removing a few comrades and making them more hardened; and for us, by removing a person who had joined democracy in the hope of helping to disguise things for a long time. ... Thank you! Spoke with: ILIRIANA A.BAJO

SAMI MILLOSHI Yesterday in the Albanian Parliament, the vice-chairman of the Socialist Party, the number one figure of that party, Servet Pellumbi, openly declared that he and his party would not recognize the law approved by Parliament for the punishment of genocide. In Marxist philosophy the party is above the laws, so through the worst of retrogression, the leaders of the SP alone have the right to reject laws and orders. In all fairness, this has been a dominant trait of the Socialist Party, especially in recent times. Yet Mr. Pellumbi should know that in the theory of the state and law it is the law that dominates society. So, whether he wants to or not, Mr. Pellumbi is obliged to recognize it. If he does not want to recognize the law, it is the law that will recognize him, and therefore I have the impression that he will lose the battle with the law. Because the law recognizes neither state officials nor party officials. In the rule of law, everyone is equal before it: those who love the law and those who do not, those whom it burns and those it helps, those who are big and those who are small. In any case, Pellumbi’s stance on the law remains to be carefully observed. Let us see who will win!?

Inside Links between the Socialists and MAVI uncovered Read on page 2

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