Interview with Mr. Gjergj Dedaj, chairman of the Liberal Party of Kosovo

SAMI MILLOSHI After failing with their longstanding thesis of early elections, devised by Pellumbi as far back as 23 March 1992, yesterday the PS leaders, through ZP, let out a cry: “The elections are imminent.” They also talk about their party’s status. Lakrori, complete with photograph, was chosen to make this “triumphant” opening. Lakrori explained as much as he could about the section of the status and, at the end of the article, stammered, “We have the means to win.” But that was all, just a stammer, nothing more. Why did the PS leaders choose Lakrori in particular to make the opening? There are many reasons, but what seems to us the main one is that if they came out themselves, they could do nothing but shout and scream. Meanwhile, they would also wear themselves out, as they have been doing for four years straight, screaming for early elections. Lakrori was chosen carefully, because he himself speaks in a stammer, while at the same time Lakrori is thus joining the chorus of the self-condemned. He should not have accepted this role, but that is his business. Yet, like everyone else, he has no choice but to count precisely the days until the next elections are held as scheduled, that is, in 1996. Perhaps Lakrori can hardly wait to take his place at the ministers’ table, where the presidents and sacrificial presidents may have imagined him. But he would do better not to rush, because it will not go well for him either: he will sink into the mire of profound disappointment. And the lessons of his party’s statutes will have been wasted, a party that may indeed have donned a European appearance, but has the “bones” of Lenka Çuko in its structure. Why are we bringing the PS leaders’ idea of elections onto the scene? Because they failed completely with the lies and promises made to people that “the elections are only days away.” Following this failure, which stems from false analogies with some countries of the former Communist East, the PS leaders are hurrying to create an image of self-confidence and of having made preparations for an unquestionable victory. But even in this case they are accompanied by hypocrisy and pure demagoguery, since they cannot fail to admit that they have known nothing but failure because of their own hotheadedness. Whether they like it or not, reform in Albania has moved forward, and Albania in 1995 is no longer the Albania of their dark year—1991. Foreign analysts also rank it as the most successful country compared with the other countries of Eastern Europe. So do not rush into unpredictable lessons, Mr. Lakrori. Demagoguery has harmed those who frighten you, while the lady takes out her calculator and accurately counts how many days remain until 1996, that is, until the next elections.

XHEVAT MUSTAFA Although they have spent more than four years making speeches to deceive the country and the world into believing that they have created a new party, with a modern Eurosocialist orientation, the PS leaders have exhausted themselves with actions that prove exactly the opposite. For most Albanians and the democratic world, the PS, fabricated on the foundations and legacy of the PK and PP, is utterly exposed as a propaganda contrivance, a masquerade worthy of an old backstage actor and director such as Ramiz Alia. The urgency or the contrivance of the plastic-surgery operation has made the parental traits, the seals—or, more accurately, the stains—of its legacy perfectly clear and understandable. These are countless, widely readable in the pages of ZP and expressed at every moment through concrete actions and positions. As if wanting to unmask the PS from its very “birth,” to show that it is nothing more than a failed creation of a propaganda laboratory, the act of this unnatural and abnormal birth was carried out and announced in the hall where the 10th congress of the PP was holding its proceedings?! The conviction is unshakable that on that day the PP merely changed its name and mask, forced to do so also by the fact that its entire membership and body of supporters had gone to sleep as communists and awoken the next morning as socialists?! It is precisely this group, with the State Security agents in the vanguard, that makes up the overwhelming majority of the PS membership and does not want, and will not allow, a departure from the legacy of Enver Hoxha and Marxism or its genuine and fundamental renewal. Along with this, the PS also took over from the PP its notorious newspaper, renowned for demagoguery and shameless lies, “ZP.” It is highly significant that although this newspaper does not forget to print beneath its title “Organ of the Socialist Party of Albania,” its numbering has its origins in the dictatorship of Hoxha. The falsity and immorality of the PS leaders’ declarations that they have created and represent a qualitatively new party are expressed clearly and constantly in their practical activity. Their actions and positions over four years, both as government and as opposition, have in common their inspiration and support in the 50-year Enverist theoretical and practical platform, although, for the sake of demagoguery and propaganda, they make some mild criticism of it, but always without ever considering—or wanting to consider—... (Continued on page 2)

In a telegram he sent to the President of the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Alijas Izetbegoviç, offering condolences on behalf of the Albanian people for the appalling tragedy at the Sarajevo market, in which more than 37 people were killed and more than 84 others wounded, President of the Republic Sali Berisha emphasized that this new barbaric bombardment of the innocent population by the Serbian aggressors once again reveals the criminal face of Karaxhiç’s terrorist regime. He called on the leaders of Greater Serbia to stop their cynical continuation of the strategy of genocide and ethnic cleansing, disregarding the concern of the peoples of the world over their crimes against humanity. The Serbs’ response to the international community’s latest initiative to end the suffering of millions of people shows that no one should have any illusions about their willingness to do so, and that only restrictive measures and appropriate punishments will force the aggressors to abandon their monstrous plans, the telegram also states. Press and Information Office of the President of the Republic

Yesterday morning, the Secretary General of the PDSH, Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu, and the Deputy Chairman of the PDSH, Mr. Tomor Dosti, received Bosnia-Herzegovina’s chargé d’affaires, Mr. Muharrem Zejnullahu. Mr. Shehu first offered Bosnia-Herzegovina’s chargé d’affaires, Mr. Zejnullahu, condolences for the latest victims caused by the Serbian aggressors in Sarajevo. He described this barbaric act against the innocent Bosniak population as a serious provocation against the international community. Moreover, Mr. Shehu added, this event constitutes another black page in the book of monstrous Serbian crimes. He also said that the roots of Serbian aggression are nourished by three kinds of fundamentalism: communist, nationalist, and religious. For his part, Mr. Dosti, after expressing to Bosnia-Herzegovina’s chargé d’affaires, Mr. Zejnullahu, his condolences for these cruel killings, called this terrible act one with serious consequences for peace throughout our region. Meanwhile, Bosnia-Herzegovina’s chargé d’affaires, Mr. Zejnullahu, spoke about the grave situation in his country and noted that the Government of Bosnia-Herzegovina is making every possible effort to stop Serbian aggression and create the necessary conditions for implementing the American peace plan, which it has now accepted. He also thanked President Berisha, the Albanian Government, and the PDSH for their continued support for the Bosnian Government in its struggle and efforts to defend itself against Serbian aggression. He further added: “We strongly condemn the Serbian colonists in Kosovo,” describing this as a manifestation of the misery of Serbian hegemonic policy. At the end of the meeting, Mr. Shehu and Mr. Zejnullahu expressed their readiness to further strengthen ties and cooperation between the PDSH and the Democratic Action Party, which currently leads the Bosniak people in their struggle against Serbian aggression. They said this would benefit relations between the two countries, Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina, and would contribute positively to preserving peace and stability in our region, which is fraught with national tensions. PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT OF THE PDSH Entrance examinations for higher education institutions began

Bulgarian President Zhelju Zhelev expressed his dissatisfaction last week with the difficulties and slow pace of economic reforms in Bulgaria, and with the privatization policy trends of the socialist government, which seeks to strengthen the position of the nomenklatura of the former state. He said that, in his view, Russophilism, which has its own historical reasons, has not played a positive role in the country. Zhelev said that Bulgarians’ gratitude toward the former Soviet Union had been exploited by communist ideologies for state propaganda. Russia’s present problems must in no way affect the pro-Western orientation of Bulgarian policy. Sofia, which is governed by the socialists, is for the time being against rejoining NATO, and is evidently flirting with the former Soviet Union and Serbia, although the country’s future lies toward the West, the Bulgarian President added.

Bulgarian President Zhelju Zhelev said last week that the failure of economic reforms in Bulgaria had pushed the country into the ranks of second-tier post-communist countries; as the cause for this, he identified the country’s economic failure. He maintains that Bulgaria never had the opportunity to experience an anti-communist movement such as those in East Germany, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, or even Poland. The Bulgarian President said that events of such scope were unknown in Bulgaria and that this had directly affected the transition from totalitarianism to democracy. He also (Continued on page 2)

The agreement is expected to be signed by the Greek side, thereby enabling Albanians to work in Greece during specified periods. The draft agreement to be signed will enable Albanian citizens to be employed in Greece for periods ranging from six months to one year. Once granted visas, Albanians will work legally under the protection of Greek law and will also be covered by social and health insurance, while the money they earn can be brought home without difficulty. The Minister of Labor and Emigration, Engjell Dakli, says that the benefits of this agreement will come later. The important thing is that this is the first step toward emigration meeting international standards. “We will need,” Mr. Dakli emphasizes, “through these agreements, through these opportunities, to create possibilities for Albanian citizens to work seasonally on the basis of legal documents and to receive the same benefits as citizens of other European nations or other countries.” These are precisely the problems faced by Albanian emigrants, who have continually sought the state’s help in ensuring that matters are institutionalized, as other countries before us have done. Foreign Minister Alfred Serreqi will travel to Athens today and, among other documents, will take the draft agreement, which will acquire legal force once signed by the Greek side as well.

The text of a new Cultural Agreement between Germany and Albania was signed by the two Delegations on 25 August 1995 in Tirana. The talks on the Agreement were led on the Albanian side by Mr. Met Dervishi, Director of the Directorate for Cultural, Scientific and Technical Cooperation at the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and on the German side by Dr. Winfried Heide, Head of the section for cooperation with the countries of Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany. The Cultural Agreement will be signed at the next meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Germany and Albania and will replace the existing Cultural Agreement of 1988. The new Agreement provides for an expansion and deepening of cultural cooperation in all fields. An assessment of cultural cooperation to date, as well as plans for future cultural cooperation between Germany and Albania, will soon be undertaken at a meeting of the joint commission of the two countries, to be held in Potsdam from 6 to 8 December 1995. Press Officer GERALD WOLF

As reported by the Press and Information Office of the Ministry of Defense, visiting our country is the Deputy Commander for Mobilization at the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Major General Majken Davidson, at the head of an American military delegation. Sources at the Ministry of Defense point out that during this visit the senior American official will meet senior deputy officials of the Ministry of Defense and will also observe the Kristal exercise firsthand.

The light and shadows of the “Shehu” dossier In today’s issue you will read: - Dialogues at the meeting of the Political Bureau of the PPSH on 11 November 1981. Before leaving on holiday, Enver Hoxha gives the appropriate instructions for the self-criticism Mehmet Shehu was to make. - Mehmet Shehu’s second self-criticism - Enver Hoxha writes to the members of the Political Bureau of the PPSH about Mehmet Shehu’s second self-criticism READ ON PAGE 5

“RD” exposed the former State Security agents working at the Court of Cassation. But whom are Gjinushi and Ceka defending? What will be done about the former State Security collaborators?

From its origins, the SP was born out of the PPSH through a congress convened solely to save the PP from complete destruction, after its very dark fifty-year past. The bureaucrats of the institutions and the Party, the incorrigible Stalinist clan, people burdened with many faults and sins, responsible for the tragic drama of the war inflicted on the Albanian people for half a century and deeply traumatized, embittered, vengeful, opposed to freedom and democracy, incompatible with the historical end of communism and dictatorship, after fierce exchanges and clashes, reached a consensus to hasten to salvage what could be saved from the sinking ship. Thus they devised a new name, the Socialist Party, and advertised this as reform; in fact, however, it was merely nominal reform, neither natural nor conceptual. Even during this period, this party did almost nothing to attain the highest European standards, because it was continually dominated by the conservative clans inherited from the PP, which was the worst of it. It is paradoxical to speak of reforming a party when one of its most important posts, that of secretary-general, is still held by a former interior minister. This party, which advertises a “reformed” alternative program said to be based on the social market economy and claims to stand for genuine democracy, has no convincing argument as to how it will implement its program. What do we need this for when Marxism is so favored in the SP’s program? They say they support social measures, but where will they find the money to increase pensions and support the disadvantaged? Is there money hidden away, or will they raise taxes on small traders and industrialists to infernal levels?! Or has someone promised them huge interest-free loans?! And believe it or not. They say they will solve the employment problem, but how, with what funds will they create new jobs, and which sectors will they prioritize for development? They say they will fight corruption, but they come from the labyrinths of the party and the most corrupt state imaginable. They say they will organize emigration, but with which country could they make regular agreements in Europe or America?! Apart from propaganda, of course, there is no argument at all. Their only “argument” is that the PD governs badly. But is that enough?! Second, the party’s internal structure and its sympathizers. It is well known that the old PP nomenklatura has always infiltrated the SP: its “intellectuals,” senior officials of the monist state, M-L ideologues, and groups of young people who are skillfully controlled by the old guard and completely dominated by it. You need only read the cultural pages of “ZP” to be convinced of how “supportive” it is of the country’s new creative and artistic intelligentsia. Meanwhile, among its sympathizers are elderly nostalgics who cannot get used to the new times, former State Security collaborators, ideologically indoctrinated military officers whom the reform put on the retired list, and an “army” of cadres whose professional “abilities” brought Albania to the brink of the abyss. Can this party, then, create a credible alternative that will lead Albania toward progress? I believe the answer is perfectly clear. And the same can be said of this party’s satellite parties, which are claimed to be its natural allies.

... and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Zejnulbanjo spoke about the grave situation in his country and pointed out

These days, entrance examinations for students are being held at the Faculty of Economics and the Journalism department of the University of Tirana. At the Faculty of Economics alone, the number of registered candidates has reached more than 1,700, of whom over 400 students are expected to be admitted. Strict admission criteria have also been established for the Journalism department, where more than 190 candidates are expected to compete, only a few of whom will begin their studies. Also, according to the criteria set by the Ministry of Education, almost—in the Ministry of Education’s words, Mr. Nazif Mata, inspector in the Directorate of Higher Education— all pupils who completed secondary school with high results and earned the gold medal have the right to choose any faculty or department in which to continue their studies. The same right to begin studies at the Higher Institute of Physical Culture, Vojko Kushije reported, is also granted to all those who have earned the title of high-level athlete. Candidates who completed secondary school with all grades of 10 are awarded 30 bonus points; those who graduated with 9s receive 20 points, and so on. Meanwhile, the best answer to each question is worth a maximum of 70 points. Similar entrance examinations will also be held at other higher education institutions during the coming week.