Inside Emigration to Italy Sharp clash — Eurosocialists demonstrate their political superiority over conservative leaders

Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu, General Secretary of the PD What distinguishes a party’s position is undoubtedly its program on the one hand, and the ways in which it is implemented during its period in power on the other. Albania was a country under dictatorship, with only one political force in existence—a force of the extreme left in every political, social and economic sphere, and, in particular, one that totally destroyed private property, turning the individual into a slave of the all-powerful state. It was precisely to create a new balance, precisely to change this paradoxical state–individual relationship in favor of the individual, that Albanian youth and our people invested all their hopes in the PD, a party that presented its electorate with a clear program and realistic alternatives, alternatives in keeping with the aspirations of our people. From its very beginnings, the PD placed itself on the right wing of the political spectrum, in the center-right. Without the slightest doubt, only a party of this kind could overthrow the communist dictatorship, not only politically but also psychologically and economically. This position was the only alternative contained in the liberal, right-wing program: it could develop the country and awaken human initiative; it could give the individual the place he is entitled to in society and provide him with private property and economic independence. Thus, on the basis of its program, the PD established itself as the leading party of the Albanian right, the principal political force in Albania, and the party of the majority. In this way, by occupying the center-right, the PD succeeded in securing a broad social base, which was undoubtedly the main factor in the destruction of the dictatorship. In terms of practical implementation, the PD remained faithful to its program. Individual freedoms and human rights, in accordance with European standards, together with profound economic reform—a reform based on the idea of taking property away from the state and transferring it to individuals, an operation carried out rapidly and on a large scale, without the slightest hesitation—would consolidate the PD’s position on the right of the spectrum, beyond any doubt, and strengthen its position. Its policy has also been a moderate policy within the right-wing spectrum, acceptable to the bulk of its electorate and entirely in keeping with the country’s interests. In this way, we preserved and consolidated our position on the right, maintaining our own dimension: we were not only the principal political force on the right, but the largest party, with the largest electorate across the entire Albanian political spectrum—in other words, we commanded the majority of the Albanian electorate. The economic reform, the shift toward a market economy, the privatization of more than 60% of national wealth, the securing of around 65% of GNP from the private sector, a production growth rate of around 12% a year, and democratic, liberal legislation in the economic, political and social spheres—all these confirm the PD’s position in the center-right. Moreover, Albanian economic and social policy, the country’s movement toward a market economy and private property, the prospect of human rights for entire social groups, and the principle of meeting people’s aspirations and improving their lives are rooted in respect for human rights and individual initiative—that is, in the fundamental principles of democracy that form the basis of the programs of all center-right parties around the world. These are precisely the elements that form the basis of the PD program and the foundation of the reform we have been implementing over the past three years. They have definitively placed the PD among the center-right parties. Under these circumstances, it would be an illusion to imagine the Albanian right without its leader, without the PD and its active role. The PD deserves the greatest credit not only for destroying the extreme left and its dictatorship, but also for moving the country, in every sphere, toward a democratic, right-wing position. During the three years it has been in power, the PD’s position has grown stronger. The role of the PD has been, is, and will remain decisive in the life of the country. The country’s economic, political and social developments during this period have confirmed this repeatedly, both domestically and internationally. No one can deny it. Everything we have accomplished has required a considerable expenditure of energy, overcoming great difficulties and acquiring new experience. The difficulties are undoubtedly not over. Creating an acceptable European standard is not easy; it takes time. But what matters is that this is an irreversible process in Albania. Political forces, through their vision, programs and ideas, can speed up and shorten this road, or slow it down and prolong the transition and its sacrifices, but they cannot halt development. Undoubtedly, theories associated with dictatorship, which give rise to communism, are dangerous. For precisely this reason, they are wholly incompatible with the aspirations of Albania’s democratic development. Seeking to reintroduce Marxism into Albanian life means being out of step with the times, dreaming of the past, slowing development and delaying integration with Europe. The only program and ideas capable of giving the reform maximum momentum and shortening the transition period as much as possible are those of the center-right, those of the PD. The implementation of this program is linked to the fate of this country, its present and its future. Precisely because of its vision and center-right position—a position that makes it possible to consolidate, on a rational basis, the ideas of a market economy alongside social protection, and that allows political flexibility—the PD has been able, and will continue to be able, to secure a majority of the electorate. Nevertheless, the PD needs cooperation and dialogue among political forces close to it. This would not only ensure broad coordination of activities, but would also serve to expand its social base. There is no doubt that the PD is the country’s leading political force, the force of the majority, which leads all its allies and partners. Any other tendency is undesirable and does not correspond to the dimensions of our political spectrum. This is an objective truth, connected to the people’s vote and to the PD’s role and mission. Failing to understand this—or, worse still, acting against this reality and attacking the PD, even while claiming to be part of the right—does nothing but give more room to the extreme left. Seeking to act as the PD’s guardian means failing to recognize your own dimensions and being out of touch with reality. The PD has always supported cooperation with political forces close to it. Its center-right position itself creates such opportunities and gives it flexibility and room to maneuver. We have never used this flexibility to impose dictates, nor do we allow others to use it against us. Only by acting in this way, we must be convinced, do we remain faithful to the interests we committed ourselves to serve with the people on 22 March and to our program; only in this way can the prospects for a new 22 March in 1996 be strengthened.

A malicious fabrication falls apart The great fuss and allegations, inflated maliciously and cynically by the opposition press, about the supposed failure of the Albanian government to respect the embargo against Serbia and Montenegro were also discussed yesterday in the Albanian Parliament. Foreign Minister Alfred Serreqi, called to answer questions on this issue from MPs Islami, Teta, Keko, etc., demonstrated before the MPs, using irrefutable facts and documents, that this entire propaganda campaign, launched by the old veterans of the communist press, had only one purpose: to destabilize the country. The Albanian Government, fully aware of the great importance of implementing the UN Security Council resolutions on sanctions against Serbia and Montenegro, has been seriously committed to enforcing them rigorously. To substantiate this, Mr. Serreqi, in reply to the MPs’ questions, presented a wealth of evidence showing how, in 1992 and 1993, decisions of the Council of Ministers of Albania were put into effect, defining the legal duties and obligations of all entities involved in implementing the UN Security Council resolutions. Mr. Serreqi also highlighted the very intensive work carried out in this regard by the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Transport and the Customs Directorate. As part of the comprehensive cooperation established by the Albanian government with the international bodies monitoring implementation of the embargo, such as the Special Committee of the UN Security Council, etc., the Albanian government has provided the necessary clarifications and information, and to date there have been no objections. Albania has always held that sanctions are a powerful means of exerting pressure on Serbia and Montenegro, and has also linked this to resolving the Kosovo problem. It is therefore clear that those who have blackened—and continue to blacken—the country’s reputation, under the pretext of wanting to portray Albania as a country that does not respect these sanctions, are not concerned about breaches of the embargo. On the contrary, they are troubled by the Albanian government’s proper enforcement of the sanctions and by the credibility of the democratic government. This was confirmed most clearly by the detailed picture of the facts that Minister Serreqi presented to the MPs yesterday, highlighting the excellent cooperation between the Albanian government and SANCMOM, as well as the reports and commendation from this organization’s representative in Albania, Franco Letari. In addition, the clearest evidence of the government’s complete integrity was the drop in fuel imports, while domestic consumption of fuel has risen noticeably. Confronted with the facts and evidence, MPs Islami and Co. could do nothing but thank the minister for his dignified presentation and ask to search with a “sick” zeal for other “stories” in the ministries and structures of the Albanian state. NDREKË GJINI

Interview with President Berisha, given to RTSH after his return from London, Paris and Moscow VJOLLCA VOKSHI — Mr. President, you took part in the ceremonies organized to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. What impressions did you bring back for the Albanian people from what I would call your historic participation in these events? The impressions from the festive ceremonies, which I believe were among the greatest in Europe’s history, marking victory in the Second World War, are profound and unforgettable. Over several days, a series of ceremonies took place in London, Paris, Berlin and Moscow, attended by all the heads of state of Europe. They honored the sacrifice, courage and heroism of tens of millions of citizens from various countries of Europe and the world in the Second World War, a war fought against a totalitarian system and ideology. At these ceremonies, special tribute was naturally paid to the nations and other peoples that made up the former Soviet Union, who bore the main burden of the war, with 27 million people killed on the front and through other causes during the war. The ceremonies were also a great tribute to the American nation and to the role played by the United States of America, through its intervention and assistance, in victory in the Second World War, bearing in mind also that the Second World War was a war fought against a totalitarian ideology that sought to conquer territories. These journeys, each in its own way, were also a reminder to young Albanians and to us of how the forces that shaped Europe came together throughout its history. In Berlin, in a Germany divided for five decades, we met our veterans of the Second World War. Their sacrifice lies at the foundations of the freedom we enjoy today. Without their deeds, Albania’s history would have been different. Albania was unexpectedly represented in ways that could not have been foreseen. We must honor the sacrifice and suffering of hundreds of thousands of Albanians who were persecuted—workers and peasants who, for their assistance to others and their free thinking, were tortured, killed, and imprisoned in the camps and prisons of our country. I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart the Government of Great Britain, Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth, President Mitterrand and President Yeltsin for the welcome they gave me and for the excellent organization of these ceremonies, as well as for the arrangements they made for intensive bilateral activities, which were very important to us and about which the Albanian public was kept informed daily through the mass media.

On 9 and 10 May, a two-day Greek-Albanian symposium was held in Tirana on the subject: “University agronomic studies and research in Albania and Greece.” The symposium was held במסגרת of the TEMPUS program and was attended by Albanian postgraduate scholarship students from the Faculty of Agronomy of the University of Thessaloniki. Eight Greek lecturers and the Rector of the Agricultural University also attended for the first time. The symposium was held under the auspices of the Greek Embassy in Tirana, and the Greek Ambassador, Mr. Tsalikis, hosted a reception for the participants.

The Mayor of Tirana, Mr. Sali Kelmendi, together with the mayors of Shkodra and Durres, Mr. Guraziu and Golemi, began a three-day visit to Albania yesterday. The Mayor of Janina, Mr. Eleftherios Glivanos, is heading a large delegation from the Municipality. The improvement of Greek-Albanian relations is beginning to produce results also at the level of cooperation between local government authorities. Yesterday, in honor of the Albanian and Greek representatives of the respective municipalities, the Greek Ambassador in Tirana, Mr. Hristos Tsalikis, hosted a reception.

According to the BBC At a grand ceremony organized at the Interpret Museum in New York to honor the 69 countries that fought to liberate Europe from fascism, the Albanian flag was also raised. After the signal was given to raise the Albanian flag, the hosts approached Albania’s ambassador to the UN, Pellumb Kulla, who proudly raised the flag of the Republic of Albania. The customary ritual was observed by all the countries in the presence of several hundred participants, many of whom were American servicemen and veterans, along with German decorations dating back some 20 years. The ceremony concluded with the casting of a wreath into the Alson River in honor of all those who fell and the victims of the Second World War.

— Greetings from the General Secretariat of the PDSH to the President-elect of France His Excellency Jacques Chirac, President of the French Republic. Your Excellency, On behalf of the PDSH and in my own personal name, please accept our warmest congratulations on your election to the high office of President of the Republic. This event was experienced with great joy by the young Albanian democracy, for which your victory symbolizes the victory of the right in Europe. Once again, allow me to convey my very best wishes and success in your high office as President of the Republic. With deep respect, Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu General Secretary of the PDSH.

“This is a major step, not only because we have settled our past obligations, but especially because it removes one of Albania’s main financial obstacles.” The spokesperson for the Ministry of Finance announced that, after two days of talks in London between the government committee negotiating Albania’s foreign debt, headed by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Mr. Dylber Vrioni, and the steering committee of the creditor banks, an agreement in principle was signed to settle Albania’s foreign debt to foreign banks. Under this agreement, Albania will pay its creditors 20% of the total amount it owes these banks. On this occasion, the two parties issued a joint press statement. The two committees also set the timetable for implementing the agreement. In his comments to “RD,” Mr. Dylber Vrioni stressed that “this is a major step, not only because we have settled our past obligations, but especially because it removes one of Albania’s main financial obstacles,” and opens the way to investment. It should be borne in mind that this debt was hindering Albania’s relations with Europe’s and the world’s largest banks, such as Union Bank of Switzerland, Deutsche Bank, Credit Lione, Banca Nazionale di Cavour, etc. Thus, resolving this problem will not only open the way for these banks to operate in Albania, but also for greater investment, which now finds an especially favorable environment in the opening of the Albanian economy.

The Mayor of Tirana, Mr. Sali Kelmendi, together with the mayors of Shkodra and Durres, Mr. Guraziu and Golemi, began a three-day visit to Albania yesterday. The Mayor of Janina, Mr. Eleftherios Glivanos, is heading a large delegation from the Municipality. The improvement of Greek-Albanian relations is beginning to produce results also at the level of cooperation between local government authorities. Yesterday, in honor of the Albanian and Greek representatives of the respective municipalities, the Greek Ambassador in Tirana, Mr. Hristos Tsalikis, hosted a reception. Photograph of President Berisha at the ceremony