You are 5,000 torchbearers of democracy President Berisha meets with a delegation representing the “5,000 embassy people” This year, 2 July marked the completion of the five-year period since one of the most sensational events in Albanian life at the time took place. Around 5,000 people, mostly young, broke through the walls of the embassies, dealing the communist regime a direct and most discrediting blow. Yesterday, five years later, many of them had returned. A delegation of around 15 people met warmly with President Berisha for about 70 minutes. “First of all, I want to express my profound gratitude to you for your act, which, after the Postribë uprising, was without doubt the Albanian nation’s most powerful anti-communist act,” Mr Berisha said at the beginning of the meeting. “We had two positions toward you at that time. Dictatorial societies are societies of duplicity. One position was the official, shameful one, which brings to mind Hugo’s expression addressed to the hangman, to receive you today only one week after Albania’s admission to the Council of Europe. Berlin, against its most dangerous section. Ilir Demalia, also one of the protagonists of those events, likewise expressed his pleasure that the “street people,” who had been applauded and received with gratitude at the time, were now being welcomed by the President of the Republic, the first president of Albanian democracy. He spoke of the 45-year crime and the depersonalization of the individual, focusing especially on one of democracy’s greatest victories: freedom. “While valuing freedom of the press, the uprising…” Demalia expressed his position on the newspapers that wished Albania would not be admitted to the Council of Europe, and on his opponent: “who insults my mind.” But to all of this, we have responded as the strongest element of Albanian society. Today, all of you are torchbearers of democracy. It was an act,” Berisha continued, “that opens Albania’s road to Europe. I have…” Ilir Demalia, also one of the protagonists of those events, likewise expressed his pleasure that the “street people,” who had been applauded and received with gratitude at the time, were now being welcomed by the President of the Republic, the first president of Albanian democracy. He spoke of the 45-year crime and the depersonalization of the individual, focusing especially on one of democracy’s greatest victories: freedom. While valuing freedom of the press, the uprising…” Demalia expressed his position on the newspapers that wished Albania would not be admitted to the Council of Europe, and on his opponent: “who insults my mind.” But to all of this, we have responded as the strongest element of Albanian society. He spoke of the 45-year crime and the depersonalization of the individual, focusing especially on one of democracy’s greatest victories: freedom. While valuing freedom of the press, the uprising…” Demalia expressed his position on the newspapers that wished Albania would not be admitted to the Council of Europe, and on his opponent: “who insults my mind.” But to all of this, we have responded as the strongest element of Albanian society. Addressing the mother of the late Altin Basha, President Berisha said that those who organized rallies against you continued their policy without first expressing remorse. Berisha also referred to the secret police’s tendency at the time to force intellectuals to pour curses on those who entered the embassies. But the true intellectuals, Berisha said, considered your act heroic. Illy Boliaku, who has entered the embassy legend as the man who drove a car through the German embassy’s barbed-wire fence, expressed his joy to the President at this meeting. Our opinion is that Albania is being governed very well. “The truth is,” Berisha continued the conversation, “that the embassy event was an assault on the wall…” At the end, Mr Berisha once again congratulated the representatives of the embassy events for their heroic act. “The campaign against you was shameful; you have the sympathy and gratitude of all society. In people’s minds and hearts, the 5,000 participants in the embassy events will remain the bravest people, the true torchbearers of democracy. We should also be grateful to the embassies, because they welcomed you as missionaries of freedom.” In particular, President Berisha addressed the parent of the martyr Altin Basha with the words: “You, who gave your son to Albania, will forever be honoured.” SHPETIM LUKU Dilaver Bregasi, former official of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, facing an embassy employee

Through the pages of communist genocide Published for the first time “The most dangerous elements must be purged” Enver Hoxha approves the repressive measures proposed by the State Security Directorate EDMOND ATALARI On 25 November 1950, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Kadri Hazbiu prepared a report on the enemy element and its organized activity in this district. As a result of this enemy blow, for a long time they lost the courage to work, their ties with one another, and became generally disoriented. However, espionage in other districts as well (symptoms of which can be seen today) … I propose that the following measures be taken: 1. One [unclear] is to be carried out; a [unclear] is to be opened in the city of Korçë. Thirteen of the principal elements are in this city. 7) The measures proposed here should be carried out in the villages and elsewhere … [The report was addressed to] the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mehmet Shehu, and the Commander, Enver Hoxha, in which he proposes the implementation of repressive measures on a wide scale in the district of Korçë and seeks their approval for these measures. Among other things, the report states: “With the arrests made in August of this year, a severe blow was dealt in the district of Korçë …” (Continued on page 2)

The Albanian Nobel laureate Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, known throughout the world as Mother Teresa of Calcutta, sends her congratulations on the occasion of the resolution [text unclear] to the Presidency’s offices for her friends, and informs that Sali Berisha [text unclear] congratulated the President of the Republic on Albania’s membership in the Council of Europe. Mother Teresa expressed to President Berisha her joy at every step her motherland Albania takes toward integration into the great family of nations.

At the invitation of the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Albania, Safet Zhulali, a Greek military delegation headed by Greece’s Minister of National Defence, Gerasimos Arsenis, paid an official visit to Albania on 3 and 4 July. On 3 July 1995, bilateral talks were held at the Ministry of Defence in Tirana between the Albanian delegation, headed by Minister of Defence Safet Zhulali, and the Greek delegation, headed by Minister of Defence Gerasimos Arsenis. A meeting was also held with the Chief of the General Staff of the Greek Army, Sheme Kosova. Gerasimos Arsenis, Greece’s Minister of National Defence, was also received separately by the President of the Republic of Albania, Sali Berisha, and the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Aleksander Meksi. During the bilateral talks at the Ministry of Defence, new foundations were laid for the further development of bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest in the field of defence between Albania and Greece. The need for good neighbourly relations and relations serving the interests of stability and peace in the region was emphasized. Issues were also discussed … (Continued on page 2)

The French news agency AFP and Euro-News report that MEP Aleksander Langer hanged himself yesterday from a tree 20 metres from a station. He left a letter explaining things to his family. Aleksander Langer had been a Member of the European Parliament since 1989, where he was also vice-chairman of the Green Group. Langer was also a member of the Parliament’s delegation for Southeastern Europe. The reasons for the suicide are unknown.

THATCHER: Now let us focus on our common enemy: socialism. Just a few days after being ousted from the post of Conservative Party leader, Major once again faced the test of a vote yesterday. With 218 votes against only 89 for his challenger, Major won and was re-elected leader of the Conservative Party. Hailing this victory, the “Iron Lady” said: “Now let us focus on our common enemy: socialism.”

The House should serve only the truth A vile slander by “Populli Po”

The USA, a great friend of the Albanian nation From the Democratic Party activists in Mallakastër The Albanian economy is always growing