Yesterday in Tirana, a group of intellectuals gathered for their meeting to denounce the Enverist dictatorship. At this meeting, the group called, first, for the denunciation of the genocide before the justice authorities, using the official documentation held by the state; second, for those found guilty of that genocide to be held accountable. Third, for the law prohibiting Enverist communist propaganda in Albania to be implemented. The group’s initiating committee consists of Prof. Selaudin Bekteshi, Kasem Biçoku, director of the Institute of History, Sotir Andoni, writer and former prisoner, Uran Kostreci, poet and former prisoner, Dashamir Karalliu, dental doctor, Gjon Shllaku, translator, Koli Xoxi, historian, Prof. Viktor Luka, former prisoner and sculptor, Mark Marku, lecturer, Afrim Krasniqi, journalist, Abdurrahman Kreshpani, former prisoner, Bardhyl Fico, painter, Prof. Ndreçi Plasari, historian, Petraq Cama, doctor, Beqir Meta, historian, Doctor of Sciences, Haki Ballshi, teacher, Xhafer Vokshi, pensioner, Fisnik Sina, literary critic, Çirjm Bitullari, judge, etc. RD’s journalists have also repeatedly called for this and stand in solidarity with these intellectuals in denouncing the genocide perpetrated by the communist-Enverist dictatorship for 45 years, turning the country into an unprecedented black bunker. RD correspondent

In the letter dated 15 June that World Bank President Xhejms Wollfenson sent to all the banks in the world concerning proposals for restructuring Albania’s external debt, he says, among other things: “I would like to give you an overview of Albania’s economic transformation... in order to emphasize the importance of an action to reduce commercial debt for the country’s economic recovery. At the time of the old regime’s collapse, decades of isolation and mismanagement had destroyed the Albanian economy: total output fell by 40%, inflation rose to 200% a year, the public deficit reached 40% of gross domestic product... With strong assistance from the international community, the government took far-reaching stabilization measures in 1992. Inflation fell to 16%. The recovery would not have been achieved. Private economic initiatives have responded very well to the new opportunities created and have proved successful in increasing social output and creating new jobs. But to support production growth, Albania needs to expand its opportunities further by attracting foreign investment and sustaining export growth. It urgently needs improved infrastructure: to ensure an uninterrupted electricity system, better roads and communications, including a modern telephone service, a steady water supply, regular irrigation and improved urban services... To provide sufficient financial resources for infrastructure development, Albania needs to broaden its sources of financing toward 25 million dollars for Albania from the External Debt Reduction Facility.” The letter goes on to conclude: “We at the World Bank and the international banking community are joining forces to help Albania in its difficult process of economic transformation. The government’s commitment to economic reform and the creation of a market economy, despite the inevitable institutional and political problems, together with the very encouraging initial results, all give reason to believe that Albania will realize the substantial benefits of having its external debt package covered, which is before you today.” The allocation of such a substantial fund of 25 million dollars, entirely free of charge, is first and foremost the result of the Albanian government’s efforts to meet all the conditions [The] general [price/index] fell by 40%, inflation rose by 200% per far-reaching stabilization measures in 1992. Inflation fell below 16% and the economy showed a strong recovery... The exchange rate stabilized at around 100 lek per dollar, reflecting the strength of the macroeconomic program. To create a functioning market economy, the new government undertook a broad reform program... Without this reasonable reform program, the initial success of stabilization and the... modern, a reliable water supply, regular irrigation and improved urban services... To obtain sufficient financial resources for infrastructure development, Albania needs to expand its access to external financing, including multilateral and bilateral government sources. The country needs to attract private financing, not only for trade but also for investment... Therefore, the letter from the President of the World Bank addressed to the global banking community concludes, the Board of Executive Directors today approved a...

The LDGSH branch conferences concluded . Determined to defend the achievements — LDGSH restructured with a complete profile — LDGSH conference in Tirana Yesterday, the LDGSH conference for Tirana held its proceedings at the Tirana Children’s Cultural Center. Participants included PD deputy chairman Tomor Dosti, PD chairman for Tirana Dylber Vrioni, deputy chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly Tomor Malasi, and LDGSH chairwoman Flutura Hasko, among others. The report was delivered by Eva Karagozi, chairwoman of LDGSH for Tirana, who outlined the activities of this branch over the two-year period. Then, on behalf of the Democratic Party, Tomor Dosti offered greetings. Among other things, he stressed that, undoubtedly, throughout the developments in democracy over these three years, an important place is also occupied by the contribution of Albanian women, which reflects society itself. From a social point of view, they have demonstrated their great intellectual potential, which must always be taken into consideration. Endowed with natural intelligence, a wonderful tradition of patriotism and a noble spirit, Albanian women have always been a positive force in resolving key national problems. As a woman is at once a human being and a mother, she carries within herself a rich spiritual world, which she tries to reflect in her children through the beautiful communication that only she knows how to provide. Thus, being an active force herself and at the same time having an influential and more peaceful role in raising children, she has a very special importance in society. Mr Dosti expressed his conviction that the women of Tirana, who knew so well how to fill democracy’s rallies, would now know—having experienced democracy firsthand better than anyone else—that they would do precisely that in the 1996 campaign, because in this way they would defend what they had gained from democracy. On behalf of the Tirana PD, the conference was also greeted by the PD chairman for Tirana, Dylber Vrioni, who specifically addressed the importance of mutual support (Continued on page 2)

If the world’s socialists need an image of how far, and relentlessly, the free market has driven them out of power, they got the best argument on Thursday, when the leaders of the world’s industrialized countries gathered in Nova Scotia. With Francois Mitterrand’s departure from the scene last month, after 14 years as President of France, European socialists no longer have a career at the top table of the world, for the first time in the 20-year history of the Group of Seven summits (G7). At the meeting, Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama is a socialist, but he has been sidelined by the Conservative Ministry of a diverse governing coalition, in which left-wing ideas about economic control make little impression. Another blow, perhaps, is that the seven may once again invite Boris Yeltsin, President of Russia and former Communist Party apparatchik, to hear yet again about their challenge to the free play of market forces in the economy. Ironically, this year’s summit in Halifax will also see some of the strongest efforts to bring back a degree of government control over markets at a global level—markets that even conservative leaders have at times let slip from their grasp. In reality, it has been more than a decade since the G7—Canada, Japan, Germany, the United States, France, Italy and Britain—heard forceful arguments in favor of nationalizing industry or imposing state control over capital flows. In 1983, Mitterrand abandoned efforts to establish socialism in France as capital disappeared and the whole economy fell into crisis. Elsewhere, interventionism was forged in the fires as US President Ronald Reagan and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher cut taxes and state controls to create a global direction that would ensure the free pursuit of profit and economic growth. Today, the Leninist heirs of the disintegrated Soviet apparatus are courting Western capital. And Tony Blair, leader of the British opposition, which is the European left’s best hope for a new voice in the G7, has been seriously courting the City of London’s financial world this week, hoping to break into a market where ties have been severed between mechanisms designed to counter a Labour government. Now, in Halifax, most of the G7 want to strengthen global economic policies and increase coordination among governments. In short, the world’s leaders seem to be saying yes to economic freedoms, but no to anarchy. This aim risks remaining an expression of goodwill this week, as the seven cannot agree on how best to put the adjustments into practice. Different national traders mock their own efforts to stabilize volatile flows and free markets.

coincide with the world and its integration into the package of its external debts, which is before you today.” The provision free of charge, is first and foremost the fruit envisaged by the World Bank’s IDA system—that is, to create a favorable macroeconomic situation in the country and the preconditions for sustainable development. It is also the fruit of the serious work carried out by the State Committee for Public Debt Negotiations.

Kuçovë—Conferences of PDSH branches in the districts begin —PDSH membership in Kuçovë doubles —The new branch chairwoman: respected physician Mrs Natasha K ryethi Kuçovë—Conferences of PDSH branches in the districts begin PDSH faces the electorate openly —PDSH membership in Kuçovë doubles —The new branch chairwoman: respected physician Mrs Natasha K ryethi On Wednesday morning, at the PDSH election-campaign premises, the round of conferences of PDSH branches in the districts began in Kuçovë. In the city cinema, packed with members elected from PD sections in the districts, the democrats of Kuçovë held a meeting of democracy. In particular, the branch chairman, Vasil Shuke, had been killed by a criminal hand. They greeted [text unclear] with the legitimate pride of the work accomplished over the past year and the doubling of PD membership in Kuçovë. More democrats in Kuçovë, more sympathizers and supporters of PDSH, more supporters of democratic processes in Albania. The democrats of Kuçovë have been entrusted with the confidence and the choice [text unclear] at the PDSH conferences, beginning with Kuçovë. The branch chairman, Mr Pënel Gega, delivered the report, which reflected the branch’s activities over the two-year period and the developments surrounding the conferences. This was followed by questions and answers. It was discussed that over the past two years, with the formation of our line [text unclear] in the PDSH community in Kuçovë. Kuçovë, PDSH’s progress in Kuçovë—but, as the discussions showed, what about the achievements of the democratic government? The evaluation and implementation of the PDSH program. The discussions emphasized that [text unclear] the program of Albanian democracy, PDSH, [text unclear] and that democrats and all supporters of democratic progress [text unclear]. Nevertheless, [text unclear] an issue such as Kuçovë [text unclear], opinions and discussion were expressed. The conference concluded its work in Kuçovë [text unclear], with a report [text unclear] and the conference’s activities [text unclear], which had provided a starting point and a project for the votes. We [text unclear] with “PDSH has [text unclear], Alia’s [text unclear] were used against us,” he concluded. On behalf of the PDSH leadership, the conference was greeted by leadership member and LDGSH chairwoman Mrs Flutura Hasko. At the beginning of her speech she congratulated them on doubling the membership and thanked the PDSH working group for Kuçovë, especially “the democrats, the activists” of Kuçovë who contributed to conducting the campaign there. The campaign to organize and structure PDSH, she explained, has several aims. First, to strengthen the PD grassroots qualitatively—its sections. In this regard, we have attached particular importance to bringing intellectuals into the sections and drawing on their qualified, progressive ideas. This requirement stems from the contemporary character of PDSH; its objectivity rests precisely on alternatives for achieving victory and its vision of a developed and emancipated society. Therefore, the intellectual’s place has been, and will continue to be, especially valued. An intellectual is not defined by a diploma, Mrs Hasko stressed. Their obligations are great. [Text unclear] that influence their membership and contribution to democratic processes. Secondly, Mrs Hasko stressed, this campaign aims to strengthen the party numerically: to create and gradually increase [membership] substantially in this direction. And so, the fact that the ranks of PD in Kuçovë have doubled best shows that this action is possible; since we have, first of all, been honest with the electorate and have fulfilled more than 90% of the program, we have the moral right to call for membership to grow. Naturally, we are interested in this growth taking place through authentic organization of membership in the districts, with sincere, capable and dedicated members. Pointing to the absurdities and terror of the previous regime, Hasko stressed that those who had lost their privileges—the conservative M-L elements and former State Security—had joined forces against democracy. “Every member must understand that they are to become an activist”—this was another important message Mrs Hasko conveyed to the Kuçovë conference. “The times demand this of us all,” she stressed. The conference then proceeded to the elections. At the grassroots level, nominees were proposed and elected from among the activists; with the proposals receiving the approval of those present, the conference elected the new branch leadership. Its distinctive features included renewal, a younger age profile, greater representation of FRPDSH, and implementation of the PDSH Central Council decision that 25% of leaders be women. Among four candidates for branch chair, the conference voted by a majority for the new chairwoman, the respected physician and PD activist in Tirana, Mrs Natasha Kryethi. The message conveyed by the Kuçovë PD conference to the other conferences to come in the districts was total support for democratic processes, dedication in everyone’s work, and optimism about the future. KD correspondent.

—Who says democracy came without bloodshed? It was June 15, 1990. Work was under way. Near my apartment building, I heard shouting and wailing. A friend told me that they had killed Pellumb Pellumbi. To tell the truth, tears came to my eyes: a 17-year-old, by name and nature still a boy, Pellumb. Something broke my heart: his age, poverty, [text unclear]. We went to the house where he lived; his mother was weeping and cursing, a frail sister, poverty, a crime. That is how Zef Kolombi remembers it, one of the organizers of the demonstration the following day. Together with his brother, he joined the mass of people protesting. At last, the dawn of June 16 arrived. This day, unknown until then, was to become a name [text unclear]. At 5 p.m., in the stadium of the “capitalist” state, the flash [text unclear]. On the green field, young people of the same age, [text unclear] from [text unclear] and Argentina, in the “happy” socialist state, were being buried with a bullet in the head—their youthful dreams [text unclear]. At that hour the Kolombi brothers, Bilali, Sterkaj and Alfred Shillaku, Arben Bizi, Gjovalin Bari, Edo Kapani, Bujar Rama, Muhamet Shabani, Filip Gavoçi, Nikolin Pema and everyone else, later joined by Sokol Hoti and others, became the [text unclear] of a demonstration that crossed the whole city and continued to the cemetery, and of the keeping of a pledge [text unclear]. The young man, killed on the banks of Hoti by the [text unclear], was laid to rest as a hero. Two days after the incident I was travelling to Rrapsh. Our geology driver, Pjetër Lazri, picked up a woman of about 40 near the riverbanks. Introducing her, he said to me: “The cooperative’s storekeeper, and a communist.” The woman immediately retorted: “What do you mean, a communist? I saw an inhuman scene two nights ago, when they killed two young people who had surrendered, but they set the dogs on them—and you men did nothing. I felt for them as if they were my own children; they killed one and wounded the other. What a crime, men, something I had only seen in films before. I was close to the house and heard it clearly.” And she wept. On June 16, by chance, I was on the boulevard and followed the funeral procession for a few metres. The young people shouted, “Down with Ramiz Alia,” “Down with Nexhmije Hoxha,” “Long live George Bush,” “Long live Enverver,” and so on. People wept as they looked at the open coffin of the 17-year-old, with the young man lying on it, but there were also some who vented their anger?! Two days after this event, the young man Hoti was killed in the same way, and the funeral procession was [text unclear], not without leaving [text unclear]. But June 16 and the burial of the young Pellumb Pellumbi remained a symbol of the struggle against repression, and the young people fulfilled Pellumb’s mother’s wish. It was perhaps a demonstration that was not silent. The investigators questioned more than 80 people, including A Ujniak, V. Hisha, S. Gji, A. Led Ramazani, Qjave Prendi, and others. These and many other [events] would remain for the P.M. Branch [text unclear] as accounts of the many dates and days that Shkodër had in abundance during the democratic movement. They would remain a refrain for the times, if they were not followed by names and dates that, over the 2–3 years from 1988 to 1990, made the border run with the pure blood of youth. In June 1988, three 17-year-old secondary-school students decided to cross the border. They swam from one side of the lake to the other bank. Near the border, the exhausted young people could barely lift their arms. At that moment the searchlights came on, and when they were spotted, even though they were close to the bank, a machine gun roared over them. Two of the students were caught; the third disappeared—where? In the water, or...? And an order was issued by the D.P. [text unclear]. The young people, beaten, stripped and bound, were paraded through the city’s schools and enterprises, where the Labour Party inspectors Xhevat Dibra and Jup Burja accompanied them and threatened them over their “deed.” But the teachers too, alongside Besnik Bekteshi, took the place of the investigators; and, strangely, these trusted institutions continue to “teach” young people, and one of them even becomes a director. What a paradox. Grown up and sentenced [text unclear] for work in Qafbari, and afterwards one of them, Adnan Mehajsi, became a promoter of December 13, with a [text unclear] V. Malshju (Continued on page 2)

PK, PP, PS have been deceiving Albanians for 54 years in a row The PS is the bearer of crime and political and social destructiveness