The spokesman for the Deputy Prime Minister and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hasan Ulqini, in a statement to “R.D.” said: 1. The Serb-Greek accusations against our country are entirely false. We have made it clear to the governments and the public opinion of these two countries that our position on the issue of Kosovo and Çamëria will never change. 2. This policy has nothing in common with nationalist rhetoric and in no way seeks to infringe the borders of neighboring states. The Albanian people, like no one else in the Balkans, are interested in peace and stability in the region. Therefore, there is no place for aggressive statements against Albania. Such a thing first of all damages the image and prestige of those who make them and the interests of their own countries. 3. As for the issue of the Albanian constitution, the Greek press and American specialists in constitutional matters have stated that, regardless of the name of the republic, Albania’s constitutional act is fully in line with the European Convention on Human Rights (Articles 16 and 17) as well as the Helsinki agreements, which likewise clearly enshrine the right of states to choose and change their constitutional regime; similarly, the need for a referendum is established. All of this also speaks to the liberal-democratic orientation of this amendment. 4. As regards the constitutional provisions guaranteeing private property, economists and well-known economic specialists have assessed and welcomed these provisions as entirely necessary for our country and essential for the progress of economic reforms. We consider the alarming voices coming from certain Greek and Slavic circles, claiming that such provisions may infringe minority rights, to be wrong and unfounded; on the contrary, they create a strong basis for the respect and prosperity of all strata of our society. 5. All of the above shows that the claims of the Serb-Greek memorandum are entirely false and are intended only to damage Albania's image in the world. We call on these circles not to drag their countries into anti-Albanian and anti-European adventures. (“R.D.”, dated 25.2.95)

These days, the media has carried an unrestrained and alarming attack from the political forces of the opposition, especially from former Deputy Prime Minister and former Minister of Defense, Kudret Çela, who, through the newspaper “Republika,” has accused the Ministry of Defense of being linked to fuel smuggling. The Ministry of Defense considers this a political attack and an attempt to discredit the army and state institutions. Such accusations are unfounded and are not supported by facts. If there are individuals who have abused their duties, they must answer individually and not have the entire institution smeared. The spokesperson of the Ministry of Defense declares that all legal avenues will be pursued to protect the image of this institution. ("R.D.", 25 February 1995)

THE DAY'S PROGRAM IS ANNOUNCED OVER THE YEARS Comrades and friends, Students, intellectuals and young people, On 20 February 1991, in the center of Tirana, the symbol of communist tyranny was brought down. The statue of Enver Hoxha was toppled, but the past was not toppled. It is still present in mindsets, behavior and the structures of the state. The victory of that day was a victory for the people who demanded freedom, pluralism and European integration. It was a victory for students, workers, intellectuals, ordinary citizens. It was a victory for civic courage against deception and violence. Today, four years later, we have the duty to remember the sacrifices and continue the struggle for a democratic, just and prosperous Albania. The fight against totalitarian mentality, corruption and nostalgia for dictatorship remains a national duty. The Democratic Party calls on all citizens to take part in the commemorative events and to support the day's program, which begins at 10:00 with the commemorative ceremonies and continues with public activities, discussions and tributes. This 4th anniversary is not just a calendar date, but a moment of reflection and national commitment not to allow the return of the past. (Continues on page 2)

Underestimation of the border massacre HUBI MARKO Tirana. After a summit of the interior ministers of 16 European countries held in Salamanca, Spain, our country signs the readmission agreement, which implies the obligation of the Albanian state to assume all expenses for repatriating those Albanians who were illegally in the EU countries. If the repatriated Albanians are unable to pay for their return ticket, it is the Albanian state that must pay. The financial capacity of the Albanian state, as well as its other organizational capacities, were not a problem at all for the current rulers, but the solution of the issue of documents for Albanians in the West has today entered into a terrible trap. Their processing under conditions completely different from those in other European countries has dragged on for months, and Albanians in emigration were confronted with the fact that returning to their homeland to obtain the necessary stamps was practically impossible. Following the official routes in Albania was just as impossible. This situation alarms public opinion and increases suspicions that the delays are not accidental. Many of the emigrants, left without documents, became victims of an incompetent administration and a political climate saturated with distrust and arbitrariness. In this climate, the border tragedy also occurred, where the loss of human lives was treated with official coldness and with attempts to relativize responsibility. (Continues on page 2)

For one of the issues of “Zëri i Popullit”, with the title “ZP with a new lie,” an anonymous article uses unacceptable expressions against the newspaper “Rilindja Demokratike” and its chairman. That piece tries to relativize the crimes of the dictatorship and to portray any denunciation of the communist past as “medieval.” This is a cynical distortion of the truth. Medieval is the defense of the Enverian genocide; medieval is the silence about the camps, prisons, internments and political shootings. Albanian citizens do not need moral lessons from those who justify repression. (Continues on page 2)

(formerly communist) “A government with tendencies toward the restoration of the old system” Sofia.- Bulgarian President Zhelyu Zhelev declared on Thursday that Prime Minister Zhan Videnov is creating a “government with tendencies toward the restoration of the totalitarian system,” but the lack of cooperation between the president and the government threatens the stability of the country. In a statement delivered on television, Zhelev said that “Videnov's government is full of revanchism, verbal anti-communism and non-transparent political actions,” adding that this is deepening the institutional conflict in the country. According to Bulgarian media, the president criticized the government for the growing influence of the Socialist Party in the administration and for attempts to limit the role of the presidency. (Continues on page 2)

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Solo Zani: “For heaven's sake, eat salad! Oh you miserable ones! Why are you attacking us? Pipi pikulet! Eat salad and do not revolt!?” UNDYRE CINI From the line where we end up FORWARD, PS