Durres We support the call of former persecuted people PAGE 2

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GEZIM LULI, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT PAGE 5

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EDITORIAL On the eve of the conclusion of the election campaign within the PDSH, we note: The PDSH stronger and more capable of fulfilling its mission The election campaign within the PDSH is nearing its end. The sections, section groups, local units and conferences are also heading toward completion. But this year’s campaign was more than an election campaign: it was, in itself, a reorganization, restructuring and reactivation of the existing structures; an effective renewal of the PDSH. What we all agree on, from the center to the grassroots, is that these elections mark growth, strengthening and new development for the PDSH. The above consolidation follows naturally from several evident results. We single out the renewal of the structures and their emergence from [unclear]—candidates chosen from the FRPDSH. As in no other Albanian party, young people now predominate in the PDSH, their party, the party founded in the Historic December of ’90. -The strength of the elections within the PDSH is implementing the decision of the PDSH National Council that 25% of those elected to leadership structures should be women. Far from being artificial, and based on the candidacies of the LDGSH and the recognition of intellectuals devoted to democracy, this decision of the PDSH National Council has also been implemented. Such a percentage brings the PDSH closer to the European center-right parties and their organizational standards. -New memberships. From its beginning, the PDSH has said that it is open to all individuals who oppose communism and wish to contribute to the development of democracy. Naturally, there is no place for individuals who belonged to the upper echelons of the communist nomenklatura or collaborated with the secret police. This policy has positioned the PDSH as a party of people of progress, and the growth in its membership has therefore been one of the successful aspects of the work in this election campaign. It is noticeable that among new members, those aged 18–33 predominate. Some branches have doubled their membership from one conference to the next. -Increased activism. Faced with the neo-communist threat and their unscrupulous campaign for positions, this election campaign within the PDSH saw a marked increase in individual party energy and in the determination to contribute in every way in the service of democracy. -The sections, section groups, local units and conferences show that Democrats unreservedly support the program of Albanian democracy, the President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha, democratic governance and reforms as the only sure and prosperous path for Albania. -The election campaign within the PDSH also coincided with important political developments: Albania’s membership in the Council of Europe, the PDSH’s membership in the EUCD, and the FRPDH’s membership in DEMYC. All Albanian Democrats welcomed these achievements, viewing them, on the one hand, as a sign of Europe’s appreciation of democratic developments in Albania and, on the other, as obligations to continue along the path of expanding individual freedoms and rights, the market economy and the rule of law. Above all, they confirm the continued support that the developed West gives to Albania’s new democracy. ... at new development for the PDSH. The above conclusion renewal of the structures, their emergence from a kind of apathy or inactivity, and their return to functioning at normal levels. New elections have been held in every section; within [unclear] the meetings have been varied and addressed an important range of topics. The campaign has focused on the organizational and qualitative strengthening of the Party’s base, the section; on selecting high-quality members; on reform; and on the efforts and commitment of everyone to implement the remaining part of the program. -As a party of the European democratic-party type, during this campaign the PDSH respected and elevated the spirit of diversity of opinion, free discussion and respect for members’ proposals, comments and suggestions, significantly increasing the role of participation in the party structure. -During this election campaign, the PDSH markedly raised the quality of its leadership staff. This has also been evident at section level. At branch level, the educational criterion has absolutely predominated in the new leaderships. Intellectuals, people enjoying standing among the electorate, and people devoted to the cause are the qualities of the newly elected leaders. The campaign from its beginning has been accompanied by the best criteria for leading the Party. Most leaders have been elected for the first time; [unclear] in the case of the PDSH, with the possible exception of developments in the tribune over the past three years of democratic developments, [unclear] ... The growth of the EPPDSH, the strengthening of ... ... and they are needed ... [partly illegible] ...

From the 4th conference of the PD branch in the Korçë district Attended by the Secretary General of the PDSH, Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu Yesterday, the 4th conference of the PD branch in the Korçë district was held in the “A.Z.Çajupi” theatre hall. From the 4th conference of the PD branch in the Korçë district The best people in the leadership of the PD Attended by the Secretary General of the PDSH, Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu Yesterday, district was held in the “A.Z.Çajupi” theatre hall. In addition to delegates from all the city and village sections, MPs Minga, Bregu and Strarotberdha, and representatives of local government, was also present. The opening address was delivered by the secretary of the Korçë PD branch, Mr. Alfred Olli, who then gave the floor to Mr. Isuf Saliaj. On behalf of the branch leadership, he presented the report analyzing achievements and shortcomings during the period between the last two conferences. Following the report, the conference was greeted by Mr. Hazhi Shekambi on behalf of the Balli Kombëtar Party; Mr. Engjell Fidani on behalf of the association of former political prisoners; Mr. Minella Themeli on behalf of the BSPSH in the Korçë district; Mr. Aleko Miço on behalf of the FRPD branch; Mr. Bert Tomqo on behalf of the anti-communist association “20 Shkurti”; and others. Questions were then asked and answered by Messrs. Shehu and Salicaj. The Democratic Party will never deviate from its program: this was the main message conveyed by the many speakers at the conference. They called for the administrative reform in state institutions to be deepened further. [Unclear] not only obscure every achievement of the Democratic Government and insult it in the vulgar language of leftist journalists, but also dare to threaten the lost seats of their bloodstained rule, in order to kill the fragile democracy and restore dictatorship in Albania once again. It was also requested that, in light of new facts and the blacklists for mass extermination planned by dictators such as Ruçi, a new trial be opened for the 2 April massacre in Shkodër. Our work, it was stressed at the conference, will be more effective with people through face-to-face meetings. then also addressed the conference. “Korçë is very important for the progress of Albanian democracy,” Shehu pointed out, and continued: “Korçë has undoubtedly been one of the powerful bulwarks in the struggle against dictatorship; it has been one of the centers of patriotism, culture, the feeling of freedom and the feeling of democracy. This city has shown this commitment, and continues to show it, through its consistent pro-democracy stance. Korçë is being rekindled as a district today, more beautiful than ever..." “Currently,” Shehu continued, “we are holding elections for PD branches in the districts, a campaign that has served to enliven PD life further, strengthen its structures and train the sections—those structures closest to people, in every village and residential center, and therefore as close as possible to the electorate. It is important for the small sections to keep growing. We have now left behind a period of apathy that came after [unclear] ... some people had been indifferent. There is a clear improvement in the people elected to PD leadership levels, judged not only by their education but, first and foremost, by their personal development and general intellectual level. There is a diversity of professions. Whereas until yesterday, as Shehu explained, there were one or two professions represented in leadership, today there are many, giving the PD structures a more progressive, more contemporary and more European outlook. This is important for today and tomorrow...” During his speech, Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu also discussed in detail the PD’s position on dealing with ... (Continued on page 2)

- They will be the ones to lose again - We will not allow Pellumbi to parade Marxist principles of proletarian revolution by force before us EDI PALOKA The successive political failures of the PS, and especially the spectacular achievements of the democratic government and the PD, have created a difficult situation for the current leaders of the PS. Having based their politics solely on the so-called “Nano affair,” the PS leaders suffered a major blow when Albania was admitted to the Council of Europe, which completely discredited the noise they had made for their leader, who has been in a cell for two years as an ordinary thief. From that moment, the four PS deputy chairmen and secretary Gramoz Ruçi, who—despite trying to tear each other’s heads off—are bound together by threads in the Bënça cell, returned to their familiar methods. The Nano-dollars were put back into circulation, bringing into the campaign to defend Nano not only the left-wing press (the so-called independent press), but also representatives of the justice system. EDI PALOKA [How can] the crowds of extremists at rallies be for an issue that justice has already closed? After they shouted and made a racket in the newspapers about the pressure that “RD” was putting on the justice system with its articles, what will the PS leaders call these “protest rallies”? Meanwhile, the newspaper “Populli Po” writes that at PS meetings it has been proposed that illegal methods be used to secure Nano’s release. In fact, what Pellumbi says is nothing other than an illegal way of creating pressure on the rule of law. As always, Pellumbi tries to blame the PD for the heightened situation, but is left at a loss when the “Di” journalist asks whether he has any evidence to support this and he responds only with some stale slogans. Meanwhile, the latest facts show that Pellumbi and his associates are preparing to create a heated situation, with their own hotheads. They tried to do the same a year ago, but [unclear] when they came up against a reality they did not like at all: their “mass rallies” ended in a few nostalgic meetings with Kashqeta. But Pellumbi, Ruçi and the others who follow them should also bear in mind that raising tensions, creating a heated climate and opposing the rule of law will mean another defeat for them, on a scale they should think carefully about. They must not forget that we have not forgotten either. We have not forgotten December; we have not forgotten the rubber truncheons, the threats and nighttime killings; we have not forgotten Enver’s volunteers, nor the crime of 2 April. Therefore, under no circumstances will we allow anarchy to return to Albania. We will not allow Pellumbi to bring out his Marxist principles of proletarian revolution by force again, and we will show him and anyone else that we will defend to the end the rule-of-law state we have built with the democracy for which we have fought, risking everything. ... although they want to eat each other alive, the fig trees are tied together in Bënça prison; they have returned to their ignorant methods. The Nandollars got things moving, mobilizing in the villages [?] in defense of but also representatives of the justice system, right up to its highest levels. But this campaign soon brought them shame and justice a victory: a thief must serve the sentence for the crime committed. Seeing that they had also failed with the crime, in the face of truth and the law—not only in Albania but also in Europe (even the International Union, which had once called for Nano’s release, now asks only that he be treated like all other citizens under the new penal code)—the extremist leaders of the PS decided to resort to illegitimate forms of pressure, thereby attempting to stir up tensions among people and push the country into chaos. At the PS meeting for Tirana, as reported by “ZP”, it was demanded that they try “more actively” to secure Nano’s release. Note this: after Nano has been sentenced several times by several levels of the justice system, the socialists speak of “more active ways” to release him. In an interview with the newspaper “Dita Informacion”, S. Pellumbi revealed what this “more active way” means: “...we will express our protest en masse, with rallies...” What does it mean to protest and incite ...

The agreement establishing the Foundation for the Financing and Development of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses is signed Starting yesterday, a foundation for financing and developing small and medium-sized business enterprises will also be operating in Albania. The signatures of Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Dylber Vrioni and Mr. Manfred Schuler, a member of the Board of Directors of the German Bank for Reconstruction, formalized the establishment of this foundation. Its duties will be to “channel” and administer all loans to be granted by German banks. In this sense, the establishment of the foundation is a good sign for the prospects of German loans in Albania. With about 7 million marks to begin its activities, the foundation will give “priority” to small and medium-sized business enterprises in Albania. Soon, in light of its responsibilities and the increase in German loans, the foundation will acquire the attributes of a development bank, thus becoming a subsidiary of the German KfW Bank for Reconstruction. Given what is happening in the Albanian financial system, which is benefiting from around 400 million dollars in inherited debt, the creation of this foundation in Albania reflects one of the positive effects of this event. In terms of what this means theoretically—the resolution of the external debt problem will better integrate Albania into the international financial community, since foreign banks will then be less reluctant to lend to Albania—the establishment of Medium-Sized Business Enterprises is evidence that this forecast is beginning to take concrete shape. - According to Deputy Prime Minister Vrioni, further financial agreements will also be signed. SHPETIM LUKU ... Development Bank to “channel” and administer all the therefore, the establishment of this foundation is a good omen for the prospects of German loans in Albania. Starting its activities with around 7 million marks, the “privileged” beneficiaries of this foundation will be small and medium-sized businesses in Albania. Very soon, given a subsidiary of the German Development Bank, KGW. Considering the … in Albania’s financial system, which benefits from around 400 million dollars in inherited debts, the positive effects of this event. As for what this means in theoretical terms—the into the international financial community, since foreign banks will now be less reluctant to lend to Albania—the establishment of Medium-Sized Businesses is evidence that this prediction is beginning to take concrete form. — According to Deputy Prime Minister Vrioni, other financial agreements will also be signed. SHPETIM LUKU

Scaglione: “The United States is Albania’s leading trading partner” From the United States, President Bill Clinton himself has given a further boost to American investment in Albania by appointing Mr. Domenick G. Scaglione, one of the most experienced figures in finance and a veteran of America’s largest banks, to head a 30-million-dollar (USD) Albanian-American fund. Scaglione is now expected only to announce the list of American companies that will potentially have the opportunity to invest immediately in Albania, creating a large number of new jobs through the efficiency of small and medium-sized private enterprises as well as joint ventures. “If everything proceeds according to plan,” Scaglione says, “the United States could become Albania’s leading trading partner.” Meanwhile, the signing of the draft tax agreement will make it easier for all American investors to come to Albania. Those involved in [?] ... [part cut off/unclear] cover mainly the ministries of Industry and Finance, whose representatives, together with the respective ambassadors of the two countries, will be present when the board makes its decisions. Efforts are also under way to establish an Albanian-American Chamber of Commerce headquartered in New York. Scaglione’s board reports that Albania’s membership in the Council of Europe and Parliament’s completion of the legal framework for investment have been conditions that are very ... (Continued on page 2)

Notice from the Ministry of the Interior On 29 July, a group of villagers from the villages of Bulceze and Bruz illegally blocked work on the dam of the Bovilla reservoir and the road leading there. At around 9 o’clock that day, they cut off the water supply to the waterworks from which the city of Tirana gets its drinking water, by opening the water sluice gates and letting the water flow into the river. After the police called on them to stop this illegal action, they replied that they would carry out further terrorist acts. Under these circumstances, in the early hours of yesterday morning, special forces of the Ministry of the Interior, working together with police forces from Tirana Police Station No. 4, immediately intervened and escorted several citizens to the police station. Twenty-eight citizens who had actively participated in these illegal acts were detained, and the materials were forwarded to the prosecution for criminal proceedings. Yesterday, the government decided to designate the dam of the Bovilla waterworks as an object of special importance, to be guarded by police forces.