On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the victory over Nazifascism Ongoing meetings between President Berisha and heads of state Newly elected French President Zhak Shirak is invited by President Berisha to visit Albania As we also informed you from Paris, French President Fransua Miteran hosted a lunch at the Élysée Palace for the heads of the delegations participating in the 9 May celebrations. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the victory over Nazifascism The grand military parade in Moscow President Berisha’s ongoing meetings with heads of state The newly elected French President, Zhak Shirak, is invited by President Berisha to visit Albania As we also informed you from Paris, French President Fransua Miteran hosted a lunch at the Élysée Palace for the heads of delegations participating in the 9 May celebrations. Here President Berisha held brief meetings, in addition to one with President Miteran, whom he thanked for the hospitality and for organizing this day, which is a great tribute to Europe’s efforts for freedom; he also met with several other heads of state. These included the President of Finland, the President of Ireland, and Turkish Prime Minister Çiller, with whom he had a cordial conversation. Prime Minister Çiller informed President Berisha about the operations in northern Iraq, which, she emphasized, had been successful and had achieved their stated objectives. Prime Minister Çiller also promised President Berisha that she would visit Albania soon. President Berisha also held conversations with the Portuguese President and the Canadian Prime Minister, ... President Berisha, who ... had met with President Berisha, told him that the European Commission was determined to expand cooperation with Albania and would support the opening of negotiations on an association agreement. Meanwhile, Daniel Tarçis expressed satisfaction with the progress and the further important steps Albania is taking toward membership in the Council of Europe. President Berisha assured his interlocutors of Albania’s determination to increase cooperation with the Council of Europe in implementing the agreements and conventions that member countries must sign. They, for their part, assured the Albanian President that the countries they represented would support the opening of negotiations for Albania’s association with the European Union. Yesterday at 8:30 (Moscow local time), at Ivanovskajer Square in the Kremlin, Russian President Boris Jelcin welcomed ... the participating delegations. Afterwards, Russian dignitaries took their places in the central stand, while the heads of the participating delegations sat in the stand to its left. Those who came to Moscow to attend the parade of participants in the Great Patriotic War included, alongside other dignitaries who had also been in London and Paris, US President Bill Klinton. Following the opening speech delivered by Russian President Boris Jelcin, several formations of military personnel marched across Red Square, followed by a parade of veterans of the Great Patriotic War. It should be noted that, alongside this parade attended by the invited delegations, military parades, festive concerts in the streets, and displays by air force aircraft were held throughout Moscow and in other cities of the country; demonstrations took place over Moscow, and so on. All of Moscow is celebrating. The ceremonies will continue... By telephone from Moscow AIDA SHEHU [Part of the article cut off at the top edge.] ... President Berisha that he would visit Albania soon. The Portuguese President and the Canadian Prime Minister, with whom Mr. Berisha held a conversation, were very well informed about developments in Albania, followed them with pleasure, and expressed their willingness to help our country. At the meeting with the newly elected President of France, Shirak, President Berisha congratulated him on his election victory and emphasized that he and his party had helped the democratic forces win in Albania on March 22. Following this party’s victory in the general elections, the friendship between our countries was recognized as having only grown stronger. President Berisha invited President Shirak to visit Albania and learn more about developments in the country, and Mr. Shirak stressed that they would remain in contact to make this happen. The King of Spain and Queen Sofia told President Berisha that they were following developments in Albania’s reforms with particular interest and greatly appreciated Albania’s courage in pursuing its path. Zhak Shanter, President of the European Commission, at the meeting

From the deeds of PS leaders during the dictatorship Many former students of the Faculty of Agronomy remember very well the lecturer in Marxist-Leninist studies as he read those “wonderful lectures”: Servet Pellumbi. They especially cannot forget two “valuable” qualities of the Marxist-Leninist lecturer. Serveti remained very faithful to the written lectures, naturally approved by the Party Committees. He never took his eyes off the pages written beforehand. Because if he happened to change anything from the written sheets, that would be “the end of the world, for centuries”—the Party line. And we remember very well that every science was tied by the red thread of Communist ideology. That is why Serveti never strayed onto shaky ground: he read, point by point, what had been written. It goes without saying how monotonous and boring those “lectures” were. But the famous Marxist-Leninist theory was a dead thing when it was not connected to the living practice of life. While reading about the “class struggle” and its further intensification under the conditions of our country, Servet Pellumbi, for the first time, took his eyes off the written pages and listened to the student Agim, whom he called a class enemy. “This man,” said Serveti, “with the stories he tells here and there, is doing hostile work; therefore, the class struggle must act forcefully against him.” At that moment, State Security operatives, who had been alerted beforehand (the Labor Party, today’s PS, has its own people responsible for the backstage machinations), rose from the auditorium, grabbed the wretched student, and dragged him outside despite his desperate protests. The arrest was immediate. The Communist dictatorship did not joke around. The lecture hall fell silent. People stood frozen. Only the students’ dreams and fantasies rushed out into the clean, free air. After a while, the monotonous and tedious voice of the backward lecturer could be heard again, speaking about an even more backward, inhuman theory. This was one of Servet Pellumbi’s deeds during the Communist dictatorship. Can this man be trusted today? TOMSON BOLENGA

On the “Alia-Nano-Dokle-Ruçi-Benc” scandal

Last night, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Tirana, Mr. Viktor Nenubajlov, hosted a reception on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the victory over fascism. Last night, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Tirana, Mr. Viktor Nenubajlov, hosted a reception over fascism. Veterans of the Antifascist War, figures from the state administration, members of parliament, leaders of political parties, journalists, artists, etc., attended the reception. The Secretary-General of the Democratic Party, Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu, was also present. The reception took place in a warm, friendly atmosphere. “RD” correspondent

The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany informs: The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany has approved the general loan guarantee, under Hermes conditions, required for the first phase of works to reconstruct Rinas Airport, which will be carried out by the Siemens company. The total value of the loan amounts to 46 million DM (German marks), in accordance with the decision of the Council of Ministers dated 19 March 1995. With approval of this loan, there is no longer any obstacle to starting construction works at Rinas Airport.

On the “Alia-Nano-Dokle - Ruçi-Benc” scandal According to information reaching the RD editorial office, accounts of meetings and conversations taking place among the PS leadership, including with Mr. Dokle, indicate that at these meetings Namik Dokle is facing new difficulties, because from time to time he is asked about the 400-thousand-dollar scandal and the fate of the printing house. In most cases, answers to this question are not given, but it is passed over as if forgotten. The only exception is when the person asking insists on an answer. Even then, the answers are usually given by others, not Dokle, because, according to those informing us, Dokle stumbles over his words when he has to articulate the 400 thousand dollars and the printing house, which is nowhere to be seen on the horizon in Canada. The printing-house file, as the corruption involving 400 thousand dollars has been called, has been completed with the necessary information—indeed, with more than had been anticipated from the statements of a certain deputy editor-in-chief of “ZP,” or another employee of the “Progresi” company. Mr. Dokle has been informed of all this, and it has put his mental state on alert; it is worsening all the more because of the indifferent attitude of his comrades-in-arms in the fight against democratic reforms of the Albanian state. In any case, Dokle has not yet lost hope of solidarity from the entire PS leadership, because he knows—and has evidence—that they too have their share in the 400-million-dollar soup and cannot be so senseless as to abandon him. It is precisely this psychological confusion that has made his speeches at the latest meetings hollow; he often talks around the issue, while they look at one another and say, shamefully: “It’s no joke, they’re talking about 400 million dollars.” It is an entire dossier of documents and papers that must be examined, and that is why poor communist Dokle has lost his wits.

Four more Albanian families were decorated yesterday, on the World Day of Victory over Nazism, with the Righteous Among the Nations medal of honor, which the Israeli state institute Yadvashen awards to people who sheltered and saved Jews from Nazi persecution during the war. Their names will now be written on the Wall of Honor in Jerusalem, alongside many other names from all over the world, of those who sheltered and helped save persecuted Jews. With the Shkodra families of Bahrije Seit Borici and Vehbi Hasan Hoti, and the Tirana families of Nora Sheho imami and Zyra e Hamdi Kasapit, who were decorated today, the number of Albanian families honored reaches 21. Israel has rewarded them with recognition for the sacrifices they made years ago to save Jewish families who had come to Albania from the Nazi massacre. “There are many families in Albania who helped Jews during the war, putting their own lives at risk,” said Mrs. Miriam Ziu, an official of the Israeli Embassy in Rome, at the award ceremony organized by the Albania-Israel Friendship Association in cooperation with the embassy. She promised to continue her efforts, together with the relevant authorities, to verify the cases of and honor other Albanian families who risked their lives to save Jews. In acknowledging the humane and noble actions of Albanian families toward persecuted Jewish families, the Israeli representative, like the dignitaries honored today and previously, attributed this to the hospitable tradition of Albanians, who helped without any self-interest and without asking for any reward. ATSH

Yesterday, the Minister of Justice, Hektor Frasheri, returned to the country after taking part in the 9th UN Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Prisoners, held in Cairo. Important issues were addressed at the Congress, including: - International cooperation and practical technical assistance to strengthen the rule of law through the relevant UN program. - Measures against domestic and international economic crime, as well as organized crime, and the role of criminal law in protecting the environment; the experience of individual countries and international cooperation.

Discussions by the standing parliamentary Committee on Finance and Economy have concluded concerning the proposed changes to the current tariff and customs system, taking into account amendments to the Social Insurance Law and focusing mainly on the introduction of early retirement pensions, especially for the miners of the Valias Democratic Mine. Further qualitative improvement of the activities of the National Information Service, toward more active preventive and investigative work

against organized crime, especially the fight against criminality, drug trafficking and other social phenomena, were the subject of debates held by the Committee on Defense, Public Order and SHIK. With the Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure coming into force on 1 June, the necessity of harmonizing all SHIK activities with these new laws was highlighted. To this end, members of this committee also expressed their willingness to contribute to drafting the necessary legal and sub-legal acts. Meanwhile, in (Continued on page 2)

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Ruçi threatens Majko The foreign debt and the leaders of the PS The new passports: a dignified presentation at border crossings Karolos Papulias on relations with Albania Investigations into Craxi’s bank deposits in Lugano The first day of the Albanian Film Festival opens Gjon Sinishta dies, a distinguished, erudite personality of the Albanian diaspora in the USA

On the occasion of the blessed day of Kurban Bajram, I wish all Albanian Muslim believers, wherever they may be, a happy Kurban Bajram and many happy returns of the festival—the day of sacrifice, selflessness, and a person’s devotion to themselves and to others. On the occasion of the blessed day of Kurban Bajram, I wish all Albanian Muslim believers, wherever they may be, a happy Kurban Bajram and many happy returns of the festival—the day of sacrifice, selflessness, and a person’s devotion to themselves and to others, in the name of what is most precious, most humane, and most exalted. The day of Kurban Bajram marks the beginning and the sacrifice of a person in the name of faith in God, in the name of love for humanity. This is the great festival of mercy, forgiveness, understanding, kindness, brotherhood, and peace. The day of Kurban Bajram is a day of a person’s deep devotion to others, to their brothers; it is a day of unity, tolerance, and friendship. On this day, people who believe in God come together in deep respect and great appreciation of one another’s sacrifice, pain, and suffering. That is why Albanians are celebrating this festival today more united than ever before, as brothers in their powerful efforts and with great faith in God to build a better future for themselves and their children. Once again, happy Kurban Bajram! Glory to God! Sali Berisha Moscow, 9 May 1995 Greetings The festival of the Lesser Bajram gives us the opportunity to extend our wishes to all Albanian Muslim believers. The editorial staff of the newspaper “Rilindja Demokratike” wishes all Muslim believers

Moscow, 9 May 1995 The Feast of the Lesser Bayram gives us the opportunity to wish all Albanian Muslim believers, wherever they may be: “May you celebrate this festival of Unity, Peace and human love for many years to come! Happiness in your families!” Democratic Party of Albania The editorial office of the newspaper “Rilindja Demokratike” wishes all Albanian Muslim believers: “May you celebrate the Kurban Bayram festival joyfully for many years!” “RD”

The Albanian Muslim Community wishes all Muslim believers: “Happy Bayram al-Adha!” We hope that this festival will become a source of family joy in Albania. On this beautiful day, Muslims rejoice, strengthen their faith in Almighty God, and deepen their devotion and submission to God alone. The splendid tradition of the faithful brings people’s lives to life on these days through visits to one another to exchange festive greetings. This is a symbol of love and brotherhood among people, cultivated by the Islamic faith; this beautiful tradition brings people and believers closer to one another. Children are happier too: dressed in their Bayram clothes, they go out with their parents for visits and walks. A special feature of this festival is that these days Muslim believers also turn their attention to holy Mecca, where millions of Muslims from the four corners of the world, without distinction of color or race, all equal, perform their religious duty, the pilgrimage. This is a truly unprecedented congress of Muslim believers, united by devotion and deep faith in Almighty God. Once again, we wish you: Happy Kurban Bayram, and we pray to God that each year this festival will find us doing better and happier, Albanian Muslim Community