President Berisha met with Mr. Hogg, Minister of State at the Foreign Office Remembrance, gratitude, peace and reconciliation will be at the heart of the commemorations marking the 50th anniversary of victory over Nazifascism, with special emphasis on veterans, young people and the family. Delegations from 57 countries around the world have been invited by the Queen of England, most of them led by their heads of state. It is worth noting that three of the statesmen taking part in this ceremony fought in the British Army during the Second World War: the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, the President of Israel and the President of Cyprus. According to official sources, more than one million people are expected to take part in these ceremonies. The same sources say that London has seen no larger celebrations since 1945. This morning, President Berisha held a meeting with Mr. Douglas Hogg, Minister of State at the Foreign Office. The discussion focused on the good relations between our two countries and their further development, the problems of economic reform, the situation in the region, and Albania’s relations with its neighbours, Macedonia and Greece. The issue of Kosovo also occupied an important place in the discussion. At 12:00, President Berisha gave an interview to the BBC television channel. The official reception for the heads of state was scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at Guildhall. For more than 500 years, Guildhall has been the seat of government for the City of London. It has been the setting for famous trials and a place where parliamentarians and kings were criticized, but also a venue for magnificent receptions for kings, statesmen and heroes. The building dates from 1411, and its size and grandeur reflect the unique authority of the government of the City of London. At 6:30 p.m., after the ceremony began, the Prime Minister of England, John Major, and the Lord Mayor of London met all the guests. After the meeting, each of them signed the visitors’ book of honour. It should be noted that the order in which kings, heads of state, prime ministers and statesmen were seated during the ceremonies was based on how long they had been in power. Thus, the first place went to King Hussein of Jordan, who ascended the throne in August 1952, and the last to the Greek President, who had held the office for only a few weeks. The welcoming address was delivered by the Lord Mayor of London. Queen Elizabeth then greeted those present and, among other things, stressed that the Second World War was one of the most terrible wars in history. The millions of victims and the suffering during those five long years—of both military personnel and civilians—and the sacrifices and suffering of innocent victims, especially the Jews of Europe, will never be forgotten. Today, she continued, we are rebuilding the European family of nations, with one aim above all others: lasting and sustainable peace in Europe. We are on the threshold of a new century and a new friendship; it is our duty to set it on the path of peace, confidence and prosperity. The ceremony continues. By telephone from London, Aida Shehu reports for TVSH. “Specialist” of the PS to present them even to the PS members themselves. “RD” wrote about the debate that Pellumbi did not dare appear on TV because, if he spoke before the cameras as he writes in “ZP,” revealing everything, he would become an object of ridicule—especially when he had to answer the question: “What are the PS’s alternatives?” In yesterday’s interview in “ZP,” Pellumbi confirms point by point what “RD” wrote about him and “ZP.” Although he declares at the outset that he is not a specialist in investments (the subject of the television debate), this does not stop Pellumbi from saying that the figures given by the PD for investment are supposedly lies, that the PD is pulling the wool over people’s eyes, that people’s standard of living has supposedly fallen by 50%, and so on. In other words, Pellumbi paints everything black, as only a “ZP” can; its journalist, of course, does not make the mistake afterward of asking Pellumbi about the PS’s “life-saving” alternatives. The “ZP” journalist does not ask this question not only because he knows Pellumbi is not… (Continued on page 3) because he knows Pellumbi has no concrete alternatives to offer. Why has not a single PS “specialist” appeared in a television debate so far to present the “alternatives” or “solutions”? What justification will Pellumbi find for his fellow members of the leadership? Strangely, the PS leaders still have not understood that they are better off when they do not speak at all than when they do, because whenever they speak they get confused and make themselves ridiculous. It seemed that Pellumbi had grasped this point when he did not appear in the television debate, but his interview yesterday in “ZP” shows that they still have neither sense nor much intelligence. It seems the fate of the Socialist leaders is predetermined: they will be obliged to make statements on topics in “ZP,” since at least that way people will not be struck by the stupid things they say. People are used to “ZP.” Meanwhile, there are others who truly believe that one day someone among the PS leaders will put forward an alternative for the various problems that practice brings to light; but they too will eventually be convinced that, apart from the dogmas of Marxism, the current PS leaders have nothing else to offer.

On the television debates — Asked why he did not appear in a television debate, Pellumbi excuses himself by saying that specialists should take part, but he “did not know” that at the same time one of the PS “specialists,” invited to another television debate, would follow the deputy chairman’s example and fail to appear — EDI PALOKA Pellumbi had to justify himself somewhere for not responding to the invitation to a television debate, and he did so in “ZP,” in a way that made him look even more pitiful than the fact that he had not dared appear on screen to face the others. Asked by the “ZP” journalist, Pellumbi replies that he did not appear in the debate because he thought someone else from the leadership should go, “a specialist.” As can be seen, in order to justify his absence, Pellumbi admits to Albanians that the number two of the PS knows only the principles of Marxism from his party’s programme. And yet this, too, is merely a stale excuse, because the only things that are actually clear in the PS programme are the principles of Marxism, while no PS “specialist” has yet come forward to present any concrete “alternatives” or “solutions,” even to the party’s own members. an object of ridicule. The “ZP” journalist did not make the mistake of asking him about the PS’s “life-saving” alternatives. That journalist does not ask the question not only because he knows Pellumbi has no alternatives to offer, but also because he knows that Pellumbi… As for the excuse that “specialists” should take part in the debate, Pellumbi is exposed by his own “specialists.” Two days ago, on the same day Pellumbi gave his interview, representatives of the political parties had again been invited to the TV studio to debate education. From the PS, in addition to the “non-specialist” M. Ulqini, this time the “specialist” Maqo Lakrori, former PS education minister, had also been invited; yet neither one nor the other appeared in the debate. Apparently, the PS representatives, including the specialist, did not know that Pellumbi would that same day justify his absence by saying that specialists should take part. What will the PS deputy chairman say now about Ulqini, and especially about Lakrori, who did not take part in the television debate despite being a “specialist”? Pellumbi had grasped this point, A staunch nostalgic for the reform of the democratic government, as usual.

— The grotesque Pellumbi–Dokle duo fails in Korçë — Pellumbi promises to decorate once again the former Political Bureau, the former red criminals who killed this people — In Korçë, too, Pellumbi confirms that the PS will halt the privatization process — Dokle “sees” corruption everywhere but says not a word about his own corruption The podium of the presidium had to be changed twice during a huge spontaneous meeting organized by the PS on the afternoon of 6 May at the “Tamara Nikolla” sports palace in Korçë.

From America to Russia From the end of April 1945, after withstanding the massive assault of thousands of German antiaircraft guns, the American 2nd Armored Division, together with the 69th Infantry Division, captured Leipzig. Immediately after this event, on 25 April, American troops met Soviet troops in the small town of Torgau on the Elbe River. After this began the final battle in Central Europe for the liberation of Berlin, a battle that marked the final phase of the war in Europe. The Russian General Zhukov led the main attack against Berlin as commander of the First Belorussian Front. He began the attack during the night, accompanied by the powerful beams of searchlights that blinded the German defenders. The Germans defended Berlin with young people aged 13–15, mobilized workers and elderly soldiers. On 25 April the city was completely surrounded by the Russians, and on 30 April the Reichstag was attacked and captured. Hitler committed suicide. All German troops in northern Italy surrendered on 2 May, the same day Berlin fell. After Hitler’s suicide, Admiral of the German Fleet Dönitz took over the leadership of Germany and tried to sign peace only with the Americans, British and French. But the Allies categorically rejected this request, insisting through the Americans that Germany surrender unconditionally. V-E Day (Victory in Europe) marks the end of the Second World War in Europe. While Germany surrendered unconditionally to the Western Allies on 7 May, the war in Asia continued fiercely. The act of surrender was signed in Reims, France, in the large building of a school that served as the forward headquarters of General Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied forces. Early on the morning of 7 May, German General Jodl signed the surrender agreement with… (Continued on page 3)

At the invitation of the committee organizing the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Victory over Fascism and the Russian War Veterans Committee, a delegation from the United Organization of Veterans of the Anti-Fascist National Liberation War of the Albanian People departed for Moscow. The delegation consisted of Rahman Perrlaku, People’s Hero and retired lieutenant general, and Josif Zegali, deputy chairman of the OBVL and retired colonel. The delegation will take part in laying wreaths at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier and at the monument to Marshal of the Soviet Union C.K. Zhukov; in the solemn conference dedicated to the 50th anniversary of victory over Fascism; in the parades in Red Square and at “Poligonteoni”; and in all the other activities dedicated to this great jubilee celebration.

- Shkodra’s youth at the forefront of the struggle for democracy - Marx’s ideas bury the dreams of the youth - After failing to boycott parliament, the leadership of the far left announces a total boycott of television - The activity of the Shkodra Youth Forum; the Secretary General of the PDSH, Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu, takes part Yesterday, a meeting of the local forum was held in the city of Shkodra. Also taking part were the Secretary General, Mr. Tritan Shehu; the member of the presidency, Mr. Ylli Vejsiu; the chairman of the FRPD, Mr. Afrim Krasniqi; and others. First, the chairman of the forum for Shkodra, Nesti Kiri, spoke. He gave an account of the past year’s work and announced his resignation as a result of moving to another job. The meeting was then greeted by the Secretary General of the PDSH, Tritan Shehu, who, among other things, praised the youth of Shkodra as a symbol and representative of Albanian youth and of right-wing ideals. Mr. Shehu praised the important role that young people must play in democratic processes, just as they initiated them. The youth of Shkodra, Shehu emphasized, have confidence in the PD’s program and alternatives, because they see in them the only path to integration and to seeing themselves as part of European youth. Albania, Shehu said, has recently been seeing itself ever closer to Europe. Very soon it will feel fully integrated into European structures. This is also the desire of the youth of Shkodra. Therefore, this youth, Shehu continued, is aware that its dreams cannot be realized on the basis of those forces that, for the ideal (Continued on page 3)

Bilal Xhafer[r]i, a figure now familiar to Albanian public opinion both in the homeland and in the diaspora, a writer, poet, publicist and patriot, has returned to the Fatherland to take his place in the pantheon of the nation’s distinguished personalities. After a scheduled program comprising numerous activities held in the USA, the country where the writer lived and worked, his coffin with his remains arrived in the Fatherland, where it was awaited by figures from our politics and culture, members of parliament, intellectuals, friends and well-wishers, all of whom gathered around to express their admiration for the intellectual legacy he left behind. After arriving at Rinas airport, the coffin containing his body was taken to (Continued on page 3)

- No public reaction from PS leaders following the Eurosocialists’ decision to remove Marx from the program Some time ago, the FRESSH chairman, Pandeli Majko, denounced in the press the fact that a FRESSH delegation, put together by the PS leadership, was sent to Greece, where it signed a document defending Serbian crimes in the former Yugoslavia. Although this fact was published in the press and the PS leaders were asked to comment, none of them made a statement. The reasons are understandable. In recent days, another fact about relations between the PS leadership and the young Eurosocialists has again appeared in the press. As is known, the FRESSH leadership has decided that Marx’s name should be removed from its program, and this at a time when Marx has not only secured a firm place in the PS program, but is also defended vehemently by PS leaders, especially its current number one, S. Pellumbi. Clearly, this is an open challenge between the young people and the nostalgic PS leaders, and yet so far there has been no public reaction from the latter. FRESSH, as an organization, is based on the PS program, so the decision of the FRESSH leadership cannot go unnoticed. The silence of the leaders makes one think that this time too the PS leaders will twist the ears of the FRESSH leadership behind closed doors, after which they will come out and make statements about the “unity” of the young people with the henchmen of the dictatorship. But the ear-twisting must happen before the FRESSH leadership’s decision goes to the conference for approval, and it would not be surprising if, at the conference, not only is this decision thrown out, but some people who do not obey the PS leaders’ discipline are also expelled from the Forum. That would indeed show that “unity” around the leaders is “unpleasant,” but the young people would immediately take upon themselves the stain that has so far blackened the faces of the PS leadership. In any case, let us wait and see whether this time the young people will really win, or whether the diktat of the henchmen and Marx’s grey beard will prevail.

An aspiration on the way to fulfillment - Pensioners are the first beneficiaries of the privatization vouchers - Good organizational and logistical measures by the Savings Bank - Next week the vouchers will travel throughout Albania More than one million Albanians began yesterday to think more seriously about their real integration into the environment of the market economy. Through the law on the distribution of privatization vouchers, the democratic government is thus giving citizens a chance to compete with dignity and on an equal footing in the total privatization of the Albanian economy. And the dream that began yesterday is starting to become reality for hundreds of thousands of Albanians. The privatization vouchers began their “journey” yesterday, from the counters of the Savings Bank’s bank offices to the citizens. And the first to receive these privatization vouchers in their hands will be pensioners. Everything has been carefully considered and planned, the director of the Savings Bank, Bedri Çollaku, explains to RD. Our bank, in implementation of the decree of the President of the Republic, Mr. Sali (Continued on page 3)

who of the Republic, Mr. Sali (Continued on page 3)

We must all engage and contribute to the PDSH election campaign MIRUSH MATI Head of the PDSH Organization Department Albania’s admission to the Council of Europe through the lenses of “KJ” and another newspaper Here’s how the Socialists will govern!... Gramoz Ruçi cannot manage to whistle behind dark glasses The Third National Conference of the Association of Former Political Persecuted People was held p. 7 The week’s sports page The red philosopher Pellumbi wants adventure, blood and devastation