BASHKIM KOPLIKU Member of the PDSH Presidium For several days, the Albanian Socialist Party has been launching propaganda attacks, ostensibly against the President of Albania, Mr. Sali Berisha, but in fact against democracy, against Albania, against our nation. The language of socialist neo-communism has sometimes taken on a snobbishly intellectual-European gloss, sometimes a rowdy Bolshevik-Serbian one, and at moments you could be deceived by them. Socialist neo-communists have for some time been lining up their contingents for an attack on democracy: their standard-issue former Communist apparatchiks, whom “democracy has pushed aside”; pseudo-intellectuals and specialists who, throughout the nights of the communist dictatorship, covered up their oppression and professional incompetence with “class affiliation” and the “struggle against the class enemy”; former Sigurimi agents, now retired, civilians “hidden” either by their communist families or among the ranks of non-communist circles; thick-headed people, desperate in the face of life’s difficulties, crushed by 50 years of communism, which, naturally, we did not eliminate completely in three years of democracy. This contingent, despite its self-righteous poses and various masks, must be exposed ... If you analyze the latest writings of the brokali-dokle type, ostensibly directed against the President of Albania, it becomes clear that the President is merely a pretext, the formal aspect. The real reason is therefore not only the atavistic illness of the cult of the individual, expressed in their repulsive servility toward E. Hoxha and now producing the opposite reaction, as they seek the reverse in another single person. This socialist neo-communist current harbors pathological resentment and envy, born of its inability to achieve the astonishing successes (as they see them) that Albania has achieved during these few years of democracy. Those who, in April ’92, began calling for new elections because they thought that, given their own record, the democratic government would be unable to run the country and would fail as they had after March ’91, when a deceived people, still exhausted and frightened by the baseness and oppression of 50 years of communism, had allowed them to steal their vote. They, the pseudo-specialists and pseudo-intellectuals, failed shamefully; they were unable to carry out a single reform in any field, despite the school diplomas and Marxist specializations they possessed. Those who sowed destruction (because that is the only crop they know how to produce) have the filthy shamelessness to accuse the President of Albania of having “a tendency to destroy.” During these years under the leadership of the PD, Albania has managed to create the most effective and democratic government it has ever had as an Albanian state. And a major role in these achievements and successes has also been played by ... (Continued on page 3) Propagandistic, seemingly fact against democracy, against Albania, against our nation. In their forms, the Socialist neocommunists have sometimes donned a snooty European intellectual gloss, sometimes a wild Bolshevik-Serbian guise, and sometimes an extremist communist-fascist one. They, their entire leadership, have clearly divided the hypocritical roles among themselves. But more important is to examine what lies behind this appearance, to uncover what the totality of their actions seeks to achieve, what lies behind the façade of their phrases, and where they would lead our country and nation if our people were to fall into the fatality of despair and … … [The source text is corrupted and unclear.] A simple blindfolded communist? Whether one of the weak-minded communists from the districts, thick-headed and despairing because of the hardships of life created by 50 years of communism, which we have not calmly and entirely eliminated through democracy. This contingent, despite its many grimacing poses and the various masks it wears, must not be neglected by democrats, whether intellectuals or businesspeople, workers or farmers, former owners or new owners, unemployed, former communists or former non-communists (the DP is everyone’s party). Only they, the neocommunists, are not an alternative for addressing the hardships and problems of our people.

Meeting with senior military officers and politicians concerning the announcement of the decision by the Defense Council to approve the document “Security and Defense Policy of the Republic of Albania” Yesterday at midday, the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, met “Security and Defense Policy of the Republic of Albania.” Mr. Sali Berisha delivered a speech at the meeting, which we are publishing in full. The Minister of Defense, Safet Zhulali, then spoke and stated that the Ministry of Defense was committed to rigorously implementing this document. The General Staff and all military educational institutions will use it as a foundational document in all their activities in service of the nation and the homeland. Minister Zhulali thanked the President of the Republic, on behalf of the Ministry of Defense and the entire military, for the support he had given the armed forces in their restructuring and reform, and in developing Albania’s defense policy. In any case, he said, I assure you that the army, as an army serving democracy, will fulfill all its commitments. It has confidence in the political leadership of our state, confidence in the Defense Council, confidence in you, Mr. Commander, and is ready at any time to carry out your orders. Address by the President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha Gentlemen, generals and officers of our army, politicians and other specialists present, The Defense Council’s approval of the basic document, the Security and Defense Policy of the Republic of Albania, is a very important indicator of the process of reforming the country’s defense structure, placing it fully under the control of civilian bodies elected democratically and operating on the basis of the laws of the rule-of-law state we are building. For the first time, state, political, military and economic bodies and institutions, as well as the entire public ... At the domestic level, the reforms have aimed to replace old laws with new laws based on European models, and to transform the economy ... Over these three years, the complete legal framework for the establishment and operation of the armed forces has been put in place; their final structure is being implemented; functions have been aligned with ranks; and the country’s defense systems have been modernized. Our armed forces, once completely isolated institutions, have established close cooperation with the armies of the United States and the main NATO countries, with NATO and the armies of neighboring countries. They have exchanged experience and conducted joint exercises, thereby becoming a powerful factor in regional cooperation and in Albania’s international standing, consolidating the country’s role in the region. On this occasion, I wish to offer my warmest congratulations to all the soldiers, officers and civilian personnel of the armed forces, the employees and leaders of the Ministry of Defense, and the Parliamentary Defense Committee for their major contribution to the restructuring and reform of our army. I also wish to thank the military governments and experts of friendly countries for their assistance ... (Continued on page 2) … in a democratic manner and based on institutions, as well as the general public inside and outside the country, have in their hands an open and transparent official document that sets out the foundations and new directions for building and developing the country’s security and defense structures. Distinguished attendees, this important document is presented to you today after the profound and epoch-making changes that have taken place in Albania over these three years. … that have taken place over these three years in Albania, following the transition from the totalitarian system to an order of free society and free individuals. Over these three years, Albania has committed itself to a course of profound and successful political, legislative, institutional, and economic reforms. Albania’s foreign policy is

Press conference by the PDSH General Secretariat: Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu and Deputy Chairmen Ali Spahia and Tomor Dosti Press release From June to 19 August, branch conferences were held. First, I want to stress that the assessment of this campaign has been wholly positive, and everything was carried out in accordance with the decisions of the National Council and under the direct leadership of the PD Presidium. During this campaign, many important objectives were achieved within the PD structures, which undoubtedly brought about a renewal and strengthening of the PD, at a level of renewal suited to the demands of the time, both organizationally and in terms of people. In outline, the following was achieved during this campaign: 1. The life of our sections and group sections was reorganized and consolidated, and their structures were revamped, following a thorough and serious analysis of their work. 2. During this period, around 5,000 new members joined the PD, and 75 new sections were established. 3. Changes were made to 60% of section presidiums, and 40% of section-presidium members have higher education. 4. Intellectuals participated in large numbers in all branch meetings and conferences, directly contributing to their high level and to the quality of those elected. 5. The FRPD’s participation in the PD structures is high. 250 young people were elected to branch presidiums, or 33% of their members, up from 17.6%. In some branches, this participation ranges from 40% to 60%. 6. The National Council’s decision that women should make up 25% of our structures continued to be implemented with complete success by Conclusion of the party election campaign. On 19.08.1995, the PD concluded its election campaign for the branch level in the districts. This campaign was preceded by the FRPD and LDG elections, which created a preliminary, peaceful atmosphere for holding elections in the PD branches. The campaign was conceived in two phases. In Phase I, from 5 May to 15 June, the new elections in sections and group sections were completed, while in Phase II, from the 15th ... (text cut off)

From the visit of Albanian Foreign Minister Alfred Serreqi to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia As has been announced, Albania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alfred Serreqi, is making an official visit to the Republic of Macedonia, formerly part of Yugoslavia, at the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, his Macedonian counterpart Stevo Cervenovski. At the Tushemisht border crossing, Mr. Alfred Serreqi was welcomed by Deputy Minister Danen Malevski and senior officials of the Macedonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In honor of Mr. Serreqi and the delegation accompanying him, Foreign Minister Cervenovski hosted a dinner. The official meetings began yesterday, on 21 August 1995, at the premises of the Macedonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The two foreign ministers discussed bilateral relations of mutual interest, relations within the multilateral framework, and exchanged views on the crisis in the former Yugoslavia and the general situation in the region. Both delegations expressed satisfaction with the level of relations achieved between the two countries and considered it possible and beneficial to deepen and expand them in the political, economic, educational, and cultural fields. In his remarks, Mr. Cervenovski emphasized that the two countries had a satisfactory level of relations, but that there was room for their more dynamic development, particularly in the movement of citizens and goods. Assessing the political level of relations between the two countries, he expressed satisfaction with developments in the region and described as a positive achievement the ministerial-level exchanges between the two countries in the fields of defense, agriculture, energy, and internal affairs, among others. He expressed the hope that this cooperation would expand into other fields as well, particularly infrastructure. Regarding the crisis in the former Yugoslavia, Minister Cervenovski said that, in respect of the borders recognized by the international community (Continued on page 2)

Conditions to improve considerably As the Ministry of Defense spokesperson reports, within the framework of cooperation between the Albanian and German land forces academies, the German ship Amke arrived in our country carrying a large quantity of aid for the Skenderbej Land Academy. In this way, conditions at the academy will be significantly improved with living equipment, classroom furnishings, and kitchen and transport equipment, with a total value of 2 million marks.

Inside In place of the “pro-American” passport of the “PS” Assault by the former secret police on the free press

Guests at RD: the new leaders of the PDSH branches The ZP thanks Picasso ...