The intertwined legacy of Enver Hoxha’s half-century of destructive dictatorship, and the rule of crime and failure under the SP during 1991, brought the country to the brink of the abyss and placed it before the alternative: to be or not to be. . The legacy of Enver Hoxha’s half-century of destructive dictatorship, and the rule of crime and failure under the SP during 1991, brought the country to the brink of the abyss and placed it before the alternative: to be or not to be. With their strategy of distortion and destruction, they aimed to demonstrate to others that Albania could not exist, and that if anyone had an interest in its existence for reasons of rational geopolitical balance, it could exist only as a communist dictatorship. But, in opposition to all this catastrophic legacy, the government that emerged from the elections of 22 March set out its program, based on the program of the Democratic Party, a program that in a short period began to restore life to the Albanian economy, improve Albania’s image, and overcome the consequences of isolation. Thanks to this program, [the text is unclear] democratic [representatives] of various countries in Europe and the world. For the Enverist nihilists, Albania was more respected and honored yesterday, when it was visited by adventurers such as Zhak Gripa, Oskar Zamora, Tupomanos, or Brazilian, Indonesian and other terrorists. In the history of a country, no political force can ever achieve in three years what the Democratic Government achieved. It transformed Albania, which had become a Somalia and been abandoned by hundreds of thousands of Albanians—whose people on the boats reminded Europe of the post-war exodus years—into the country with the highest economic growth in Europe. But for the nihilists, the International Monetary Fund, which declared this figure, is one of the institutions of American imperialism. Albania in 1991, Albania today: [the text is unclear] plundered and robbed in broad daylight; Albania with 20% of its land cultivated, [and] 80% did not vote for it; the laws passed by the Albanian Parliament, the new Penal Code—these and other things do not constitute achievements for the destructive nihilists. On the contrary, they accuse [the government] of violating individual freedoms, apparently referring to the time when one could be beheaded, imprisoned, killed, persecuted, and one’s family and clan interned for even a single word that displeased the dictatorship. Albania of class warfare, prisons, and inhuman camps inspires nihilists to blacken the present: Albania of freedom, justice, and respect for the individual. But honest people also fall victim to the propaganda of these nihilists—people who rightly want things to move faster and improve. Yet this legitimate wish of theirs has nothing in common with the destructive propaganda of the nihilists and the extreme left. The distribution of securities, this process that turns Albanians into owners of what belongs to them, enrages the nihilists, who have recognized and still recognize only the red elite as owners, from bureau members down to cooperative chairmen. Their nihilism sees no difference between former laborers on former state farms and their future owners, who will receive the land free of charge. Their nihilism is as cynical as it is devilish. Through it they seek to blur or diminish, even slightly, the great contrast between 1991, the year of rule by crime and failure, and 1995, an Albania of stability, growth, and progress. For the red staff, everything not based on Marxist principles is nonexistent, harmful, dangerous, and undemocratic. The program of the DP, implemented by the government and the coalition forces, is the program of democracy and the market economy in Albania, laying the foundations for a secure future for the country as a whole. The platform of nihilism seeks precisely to denounce this future, but it is a failed platform. Through it, they will deservedly condemn themselves. The Democratic Party, a program that began within a short period to revive of isolation. Thanks to this program, the country of hunger, alms, exoduses, arson and mass looting was transformed into the country with the greatest stability in the region, a success story of reform and an undisputed factor for peace and stability in the Balkans. Against these achievements, which have had and will have historical importance for Albania and are decisive for its future, the entire nihilistic and destructive propaganda arsenal of left-wing extremism was deployed. For the Albanian Marxists’ leadership headed by the Socialist Party, today’s Albania—which has signed the “Partnership for Peace,” enjoys special status in the Council of Europe, has signed cooperation agreements with the European Union, meets the Copenhagen criteria, and through its diplomacy succeeded in having the first resolution on the national question adopted at the UN—is more isolated than it was yesterday, in Enver’s time, when its diplomacy and politics were those of a vassal and a patron, or of “Pjaç” toward everyone. In just these two years, Albania was visited by dozens of presidents, heads of state, leaders of international organizations and members of foreign governments. These indicators show that it 1991, today’s Albania—[?] devastated and robbed in broad daylight, Albania with only 20% of its land cultivated, with the fatal 80% for the economy, and with farms kept afloat through handouts and aid from other countries—was now Albania of cultivated land, private ownership and trade, and a two- to threefold increase in consumption per capita. But, for Albanian nihilists, the economic situation of the era of agricultural cooperatives, when hundreds and hundreds of elderly people and children died of hunger, disease and epidemics that went unreported, will only be achievable in the next century. The nihilists, with their destructive strategy and propaganda and their most deceitful methods, exploit the shortages and extraordinary difficulties inherited from the past and those involved in building the market economy, as well as the changes and weaknesses of the new administration. They loudly proclaim that, without water and electricity, Albanians have forgotten the years of thirst and darkness, which were so grandly—and at the same time falsely—portrayed as a period of land reclamation and complete electrification of the country. For Albanian nihilists, the privatization of housing, the disappearance of queues, the introduction of the five-day workweek, the development of the market, etc., are nothing other than “jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.” The Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms, which they foresee, and [??] the Party of Labour of Albania, which for five 2)

Yesterday at the “SAREX-95” military exercise Yesterday’s day of the joint Albanian-American exercise “Sarex-95” began with a press conference by the army’s Chief of General Staff, General Sheme Kosova, and the captain of the “Ponce”, a ship of the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean, Daniel Shereng. Today’s exercise, General Sheme Kosova said, has been received with particular interest, and relations with the United States are excellent. All the subjects of the military exercise confirm this. This is also what all our other NATO colleagues want. The Albanian army is open to NATO countries and other countries that aspire to peace. The Chief of General Staff emphasized that the naval exercise, scheduled for two mornings, had been postponed until today because of some difficulties with the search-at-sea component, planned by both sides to take place under the most normal conditions possible, although it is a demonstration exercise. The evening before yesterday, an American soldier was shot with a firearm in the city of Durrës. Regarding this, Mr. Sheme Kosova pointed out that all measures had been taken by the law-enforcement authorities, several citizens had been detained, and the case was under [investigation]. The perpetrators have been apprehended, and postponing the exercise had nothing to do with the incident. For American Captain Shereng, cooperation with Durrës Municipality, the police, the hospital, and the surgeons made it possible to save the life of the U.S. Marine. The head of the surgical service in Durrës, Dr. Ismet Balla, said that the operation lasted about three and a half hours. The patient’s condition during the operation was serious because of the blood he had lost. The American Marines also helped, donating the blood the patient needed. The resuscitation physician, Thanas Buci, stated that the wounded man’s condition was still serious as a result of his having received approximately 18 liters of blood, and that he therefore needed more specialized treatment. In the meantime, until suitable arrangements can be made, he will be treated at this hospital. Asked whether this incident would affect relations between the two countries, Captain Shereng replied: “No. In fact, this incident happened, but it does not affect the excellent relations between American and Albanian military personnel, or between America and Albania. We will continue to stay; we will continue the progress that has been achieved.” Regarding the exercise, he said that the operations would be successful. “It is an excellent, well-coordinated cooperation, for which both countries have worked. There will be a change to the program, but the exercise will be carried out successfully.” Yesterday’s activities in the “Sarex 95” exercise consisted of search-and-evacuation operations for people in the field, lasting over a period of 2.5 hours. These operations were organized in four phases: search, locating, providing first aid, and transportation to health centers. A total of 150 Albanian troops, 40 American Marines, two Albanian helicopters, one British helicopter, one American helicopter, and one German aircraft were committed to carrying out today’s operation. They coordinated their actions with the Italian and British ships at sea and our ship, anchored in the port. The operation was directed by a joint Albanian-American military staff and followed by observers and military attachés from many countries, as well as local and foreign press journalists. Attending were [text begins mid-sentence] Major General Ilia Vasho, chairman of the parliamentary committee for defense, public order, and SHIK, Azem Hajdari, members of parliament, local government officials, etc. At the conclusion of the exercise, the director of the army’s Operations Directorate for the exercise, Brigadier General Vladimir Ismolli, said: “We successfully carried out the tasks, both the field activities and the flights, as well as communications.” Regarding the conduct of the exercise, Mr. Vasho said: “It was a magnificent demonstration of a type that fully corresponds to a peace exercise, and this exercise, among other things, also shows the level of cooperation in the military field.” Afterwards, the Minister of Defense, Zhulali, [met] with observers from the various countries following the exercise and said that “Albania is open to entering into and deepening bilateral relations with other countries as well.” Meanwhile, it has been learned from the Durrës surgical hospital that the American soldier who was wounded in the incident the previous evening is out of danger and is expected to be transferred to Germany. Likewise, the local authorities in the city of Durrës have announced that the perpetrator has been found and that work is under way. The night before yesterday, an American soldier was wounded by gunfire in the city of Durres. Regarding this, Mr. Sheme Kosova noted that all necessary had been detained, and the matter was under investigation. The wounded man is out of danger. In response to questions from various journalists about the incident, General Kosova said that the regular police and [??] were immediately at the scene. Various measures that affect the setting of penalties for offenders were also mentioned, to avoid prison sentences as much as possible and to ease the serving of such sentences, quickly as possible. QUESTION: How will this code enter into force, as distinct from other laws? ANSWER: Regarding the entry into force of this code, it should be emphasized that the code cannot be considered in isolation from other laws. The new code is linked to the adoption of the new military code, the Code of Criminal Procedure, and the preparation and adoption of several other laws that complete the code. In addition, time must be allowed for employees of the justice authorities to become familiar with and master the code. These are some of the reasons why, unlike other laws, the code requires a longer period before it enters into force. many problems; the main ones were two: of several countries, naturally those that have adopted Second, the code is for Albania and the Albanians; therefore, not only tradition but also the conditions of the country, particularly its prospects of moving toward Europe, code.

With Deputy Minister of Justice Mr. Vladimir Kristo QUESTION: In general, what is the difference between the new Penal Code and the old code of the dictatorship? First, the new code has been completely stripped of the ideological elements that were typical of the code of a totalitarian society. Second, the new code is a domestic law, but it complies with international standards. Its principles reflect those recommended by conventions and documents of a universal nature, which are respected throughout the democratic world today. Third, the code provides many instruments that affect the determination of punishments for offenders, including fines. At the same time, criteria have been established to avoid imprisonment as far as possible and to make the serving of such sentences easier, so that people can be reintegrated into social life as quickly as possible. QUESTION: As the principal author of this code, what basic principles did you rely on, and what difficulties did we face? ANSWER: Naturally, drafting the code was neither simple nor easy. There were many difficulties, because we had to resolve many issues. The two most important were: First, the need to become familiar with the criminal legislation of several countries, naturally those known for democratic legislation, in order to benefit from their legal experience. Second, the code is for Albania and Albanians; therefore, not only tradition but also the country’s circumstances, and in particular its European perspective, were important factors taken into account in drafting the new code.

(Continued from page 2) The fanatical defense of the crimes committed by the communist regime’s ruling class and the leaders of the Socialist Party—here we show our political tone, the right of a time of government in the previous year or of the dictatorship, as foreseen by the Socialist Party, which for fifty decades planned and implemented in Albania one of the most dictatorial regimes in human history. The strategy of concealment devised by this political force to cover up the crimes committed during the dictatorship, under a veil of moderate verbal expressions such as “let’s not deal with the past” or “Europe will not accept us with these backward attitudes,” is essentially the clearest synthesis of its moral crisis. (Continued on page 2)

Athens: The Greek press sharply criticized today the Greek socialist foreign minister, Mr. Karolos Papulias, who was at the center of the decision to boycott the Auschwitz commemorative ceremonies because the flag of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia was hoisted there. For the pro-government newspaper “Ta Nea,” this decision demonstrates “a lack of sensitivity and common sense.” “Greece deserted the event, even though its presence was essential at a place where tens of thousands of Greeks died,” the daily stresses. For the newspaper “Elefterotipia,” Papulias “is unable to distinguish the important from the trivial.” (Continued on page 2)

Turkey yesterday asked Athens to release the Muslim cleric who has been imprisoned for ten months for assuming the title of mufti of the Muslim community in northern Greece. “Yesterday, President Suleyman Demirel sent a message to the president of Greece, Konstantin Karamanlis, expressing his objection to the decision to imprison Mufti Mehmet Aga, of Xanthi, for carrying out his religious duties,” the office of President Demirel announced. “He asked Karamanlis to release Mufti Mehmet Emin Aga,” the same source noted. Greece refused to recognize Aga as the mufti of the area. He was imprisoned (Continued on page 2)

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Maks Velo Page 5 Maks Velo Requiem for Spaç Page 5

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You have failed at your fortune-telling, Mr. Gjinushi Mr. Gjinushi! Your fortune has never come true. The opposite happens; and since you have predicted early elections, know that they will take place precisely when the law stipulates. Your predictions and wishes have run their course, because together with your comrade Pellumbi you have several times called for early elections after 22 March. The difference is small: back then you were [unclear], while today, after they have emboldened you with power, you speak openly. Mr. Gjinushi! The 1996 elections will leave you outside parliament. You can enter it only if the socialists give you a seat in return for the help and services you rendered during the war. The first stage of this operation is expected to take place this morning. D.KARAJ