Mass at St. Paul’s Cathedral, the president Berisha’s turn in the spotlight Placed chronologically, and on the basis of different visits to the main centers of the Western world, this section gives the ceremony the features of a state ceremony. The celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the end of the war in Europe and the state ceremonies in London, ending with a pilgrimage in France, have given President Berisha that kind of weight, influence and strengthened cause in international relations. This system is established by moving from one European capital to another, although their very presence has become more important as a political fact as well. This is especially evident in the fact that the President of Albania is not part of the ceremony. The presidential plane was received by the French President Jacques Chirac and Prime Minister Balladur. The reception of the President at Orly airport was such as to give it clear official and state notes. The whole visit itself was like that. According to the President’s information office, the Albanian head of state took part in the commemorations of the end of World War II and honored the fallen soldiers at the British and French military cemeteries. Later President Berisha met with the French Prime Minister Édouard Balladur and with the President of the French National Assembly, Philippe Séguin. In this meeting, President Berisha said that the aspiration of Albanians for European integration is unstoppable and that cooperation with France remains a priority of Albanian foreign policy. Afterwards the delegation departed for Paris to take part in the ceremonies organized on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the victory over fascism.

The PS has “specialists” only for outbursts and deception From the TVSH correspondence and from the content of the program it has become clear that the so-called opposition led by the PS, after failed attempts to distort today’s Albanian realities, seeks to bring back into use the old clichés of the class struggle. This was also evident in Sunday’s program, where PS representatives tried to justify their positions with old accusations, without offering any convincing alternative. The PS “specialists,” according to the debate, were not seen offering new ideas, but only outbursts, resentment and deception toward public opinion. Clinging to incidents and inflating them, they tried to create an atmosphere of insecurity, when in fact Albanian reality is moving toward stability and reforms. The program showed that, faced with concrete arguments from the majority’s representatives, the PS voices remained weightless. The public was able to clearly distinguish the contrast between demagoguery and facts.

A condition of moving from darkness to freedom cannot ask to turn back The LDC in the district of Kavaja held its electoral conference, in which the progress of reforms and the strengthening of local structures were discussed. Participants emphasized that the path begun toward freedom, democracy and the market economy is irreversible. It was underlined that no one can demand a return to the old system, which brought isolation, poverty and a lack of prospects for the country. The conference praised the role of democratic structures in consolidating political life and bringing citizens closer to institutions. In conclusion, calls were made for greater commitment and responsibility in support of further development.

LIS HOLA Together with the victory of the French right-wing candidate, Jacques Chirac, with 52.64% of the vote against the rival of the left-wing coalition, Lionel Jospin, with 47.36 percent, a 14-year period of the presidency of François Mitterrand also comes to an end. Nevertheless, the France of these years could not be separated from the name of the president who led it from 1981-1995. The presidential elections in France were preceded by various polls that projected the right-wing candidate as the winner, but his victory was only confirmed in the final count. Jacques Chirac enters the Élysée with the promise to strengthen France’s role in Europe and to confront high unemployment. (Continues on page 2)

Greeting of the President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha Mr. Chairman! Ladies and gentlemen! Allow me to say a few words about the work and life of the writer Bila Xhaferi. For me it is a special honor to be present at this commemorative event dedicated to a personality of Albanian letters, who paid dearly for the right to think and write freely. Bila Xhaferi was a determined opponent of the communist dictatorship and of the censorship it imposed on creators and on Albanian society. He chose not to submit, but to defend the dignity of free man, even when this cost him persecution, internment and exile. His work remains testimony to civic courage and intellectual resistance. His name today is part of our cultural and democratic conscience. By honoring Bila Xhaferi, we honor all those who challenged tyranny with free word and free thought. (Continues on page 5)

On the political debate on television The Minister of the Interior has declared that law enforcement bodies act in accordance with the law and that the opposition’s accusations are unfounded. According to him, the purpose of these statements is to create a false perception of public order. He emphasized that no citizen can be detained outside legal procedures and that the cases presented in the media are being verified. Meanwhile, in the program, attempts were made to present the situation in alarmist tones, but the facts presented by the law-enforcement institutions contradict this. (Continues on page 2)

50th anniversary of fascism Where are those who led the flock Stronger and more continuous cooperation in the future The Albanian army in the joint exercise “New Spirit-95” in Greece The head of the PS continues the campaign of deception “ZP” serves the petty interests of a privileged group The PS offers Albanians the “passport” of violence and crime