Considering this as a meeting for the freedom of speech, I believe that the united word is better than the written one.
Journalism,
a noble
mission
President Berisha’s speech on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of RD newspaper
Considering
this as a
meeting for the
freedom of speech,
I believe that the
united word is
better than the written one.
Therefore, I have not
prepared anything in
writing, but I want to
greet you all on this
day, which marks a
very important day in
the history of the
Albanian word. It marks
a very important day in
the major projects of
Albanian journalism
during this century.
It marks an important
day for the newspaper
Rilindja Demokratike
and for the entire free
Albanian press today,
which has played and
plays a very substantial role in the emancipation of Albanian thought.
Political thought, cultural thought, artistic thought, sporting thought,
comprehensive thought. And today I say that together we celebrate
with a deep sense of respect and pride for the press. The free press
has been built into a powerful pillar, a sure guarantee of the values of
democracy and of our democratic system. There can be no talk of a
democratic system without a free press, and in this respect we all note
with satisfaction that positive things are predominant as far as the role
is concerned, if we set aside the fact that in all fields, and particularly
in matters of great interest to politics, institutions, the government,
courts, the press itself, fashion, entertainment, sports, and humor. So,
indeed, it casts its gaze across all aspects of life and activity in today’s
Albania.
The difficulties of the press stem first of all from the fact that
journalists more than anyone else have in their noble mission the
finding, seeking, and articulation of truth. Truth is difficult to find; it is
difficult to articulate. And that is what journalists of the Albanian press
do every day today. And this is one of the greatest achievements of
democracy. Naturally, the press can only be measured and valued in
accordance with the fidelity of its ideals. Its great ideals are freedom
and responsibility. Freedom cannot be separated from responsibility.
These two are the pillars on which a serious press builds its activity.
The press is a mass medium, and I do not doubt that preserving the
responsibility of this position is extremely important. Because the truth
is that the medium influences the mass medium, but the mass also
influences the medium. Therefore it is extremely important that the
press should not seek, through sensationalism, to change the behavior
of the masses because this turns into a boomerang. The truth is that if
we look at the Albanian press today, it is in continuous growth, and this
is one of the most positive phenomena of the present time. Today, on
this 5th anniversary, we congratulate together the newspaper Rilindja
Demokratike. Rilindja Demokratike was born in January 1991 as a child
of the spirit of free, democratic Albanian intellectual thought. It is true
that it was created as an organ of the Democratic Party. But in reality
the truth is that Rilindja Demokratike was created as a newspaper
broader than a party newspaper. Because a party that had existed only
for 3 weeks could not claim that it would be able to create a newspaper.
So, in reality, it was born and stems from the democratic spirit, from
the democratic ideas of Albania’s intellectuals and citizens, writers,
poets, and people of letters. In its 5th anniversary this newspaper has
a positive balance sheet. It is extremely important for this newspaper,
and I have great confidence that it will preserve its positive legacy and
enrich it by adapting to the times, having as its pillars the ideas and
foundations of freedom and responsibility for what is written every
day, for the information given. In this case, once again I want to greet
you, the journalists of RD, and all the journalists of the other
newspapers present, or not present, in this hall, who, with their
objections and arguments, are by no means enemies of democracy,
but friends of democracy. They contribute to the defense, development
and consolidation of its values.
In an analysis of political developments in Eastern Europe broadcast yesterday at 17:45, the Euronews television network, after presenting the reforms in the former communist countries and describing the former Polish and Hungarian communists as reformed, also commented on the positions of the Albanian “socialists.”
EURONEWS:
Albanian socialists
remain unreformed
communists
In an analysis of political developments in
Eastern Europe broadcast yesterday at 17:45,
the Euronews television network, after presenting the reforms
in the former communist countries and describing the former
Polish and Hungarian communists as reformed,
also commented on the positions of the Albanian
“socialists.”
“Albanian socialists remain unreformed communists” -
Euronews stressed, backing this up with the
“socialists’” opposition to reforms.
Albania has made extraordinary progress
Lord Finsberg stated to BBC:
In an interview given yesterday to BBC radio, Lord Finsberg stated:
The President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, received the Council of Europe rapporteurs
Albania’s willingness to fulfill its commitments is praised
President Berisha, at the meeting he held yesterday with the Council of Europe rapporteurs, presented the progress of democratic reform, focusing in particular on its legal, legislative and administrative aspects. He stressed that Albania, as a full member of the Council of Europe, is fully committed to strengthening cooperation with this institution. It is fulfilling, and will fulfill, all its commitments to the Council of Europe, and will ratify all the conventions that it respects. Albania is also deeply interested in consolidating an independent judicial system.
Lord Finsberg, Chairman of the Political Commission of the Council of Europe, pointed out the major changes that had taken place in all fields and praised President Berisha’s role in the democratic processes. He considered the decision to remove the chairman of the Court of Cassation to be correct. Meanwhile, rapporteur Kolumberg clarified that he had said only that the Nano case should have the right to be reviewed in accordance with the new code in force. President Berisha assured him that every Albanian citizen, regardless of affiliation, enjoys these rights.
Lord Finsberg particularly praised Albania’s willingness to fulfill the commitments it had undertaken.
Albania’s will to fulfill commitments is appreciated
President of the Republic Sali Berisha received the rapporteurs of the Council of Europe
President Berisha, in yesterday’s meeting with the rapporteurs of the Council of Europe, gave an account of the progress of democratic reform, focusing in particular on its legal, legislative and administrative aspects.
The Voice of Hope for Albanians
Greeting from the editor-in-chief of “RD,” Lazër Stani
We have gathered here tonight to celebrate a notable event: the fifth anniversary of the publication of the first issue of the newspaper “Rilindja Demokratike.” After a long night of terror, tragic for Albanians, tragic for Albanian culture and for spiritual history—a night in which, first of all, the free word and free thought were imprisoned; in which the word was first stripped of its virtuosity and sacredness, and the word itself, from being the bearer of civilization, emancipation and human culture, was turned into an instrument of alienation, slander, deception and murder—the publication of the first issue of the newspaper “Rilindja Demokratike” constitutes a historic event for the free Albanian press, for freedom of expression, for realizing the great aspirations of Albanians for freedom and democracy, for civilization and the development of youth and human values. On this notable day, we respectfully remember all those Albanians—journalists, writers, intellectuals and artists—who were martyred for freedom of expression, who never compromised and preserved it, even at the cost of their lives, safeguarding the honor of the first word and the second word.
Five years ago, the newspaper “Rilindja Demokratike” became a powerful voice of hope for Albanians, and a powerful support for Albania’s democratic movement, the Democratic Party, and all those Albanians who, united around the ideal of freedom, stood against the dictatorship, which in its agony displayed extraordinary brutality. Dozens of distinguished intellectuals, writers, artists and journalists joined and collaborated with the newspaper “Rilindja Demokratike,” because they saw in RD a free tribune, a tribune of hope for their future, for the future of Albania and of the Albanians.
We express our gratitude and respect to all those who have sincerely contributed, and continue to contribute to this day, to the newspaper “Rilindja Demokratike.” But on this notable day, we also offer our gratitude and respect to the readers of the newspaper “Rilindja Demokratike,” which exactly five years ago today saw the publication of its first issue. On this day, first of all, we must honor and [text unclear: “me qënse kërkuar njeriu e njeriut nga diktatura dhe përbindëshja dhe e qellat e saj”]. But we also express our gratitude and respect to all those readers who find in our newspaper their aspirations for freedom, emancipation, civilization, humanism and the independence of the Albanian nation reflected.
Five years is not a long time in the history of a newspaper, but given the circumstances in which the newspaper “Rilindja Demokratike” was launched, the mission it undertook, and its contribution to denouncing the communist dictatorship—one of the most brutal and monstrous dictatorships in postwar European history—its contribution to overthrowing this dictatorship and to emancipation in Albania, its contribution to establishing freedom of expression, democracy and the rule of law, to economic reforms, and to defending Albanian issues and civic and human values, this short period since the first issue of the newspaper “RD” appeared takes on extraordinary importance and gives our newspaper unquestionable historical legitimacy. This is because the history of Albania and that of the newspaper “Rilindja Demokratike” over these five years of profound changes and major developments are closely intertwined.
Tonight, five years after the publication of the newspaper’s first issue, we cannot help but look at how the newspaper itself has progressed: it has grown, matured and become more civilized; it has acquired the wisdom of a true newspaper, taking a
(Continued on page 3)
Albania passes the Council of Europe’s “test” successfully
Council of Europe rapporteurs speak to the Albanian press
Finsberg: Albania has made positive steps toward fulfilling the commitments undertaken, and I am pleased with the progress achieved.
Council of Europe rapporteurs
speak to the Albanian press
Albania passes the
Council of Europe’s “test”
successfully
Finsberg: Albania has made positive
steps toward fulfilling the commitments
undertaken, and I am pleased with the
progress achieved.
I support the law on genocide
In Albania the press is free and this
is quite evident
p.3
Cocktail evening for the fifth anniversary of “Rilindja Demokratike”
Last evening in the premises of Hotel Tirana
Last evening, in one of the rooms of Hotel Tirana, the fifth anniversary of the creation of the first Albanian opposition newspaper, “Rilindja Demokratike,” was marked in a very festive atmosphere.
Cocktail evening for the fifth anniversary
of “Rilindja Demokratike”
Last evening, in
one of the rooms of
Hotel Tirana, the
fifth anniversary
of the creation of
the first Albanian
opposition newspaper
“Rilindja
Demokratike” was
marked in a very
festive atmosphere.
Among those present were
deputies, politicians,
government officials,
journalists from various
press organs, founders
of this newspaper and
authors of the first
articles, as well as
writers, artists, etc.
Also in the audience were the President
of the Republic Sali Berisha, the
Chairman of the People’s Assembly
Pjeter Arbnori, the Prime Minister
Aleksandër Meksi, the Secretary
General of the Democratic Party
Tritan Shehu, the Chairman of the
Parliamentary Group of the
Democratic Party Ali
(Continues on page 3)
A shameful failure of the Albanian opposition
Meeting of President Berisha with members of the government and senior executive officials
Projects for Albania
of the 2000s
Yesterday, President of the Republic Sali Berisha held a meeting at the Presidency with members of the government and the highest-ranking officials of the executive. He congratulated them, and this also [unclear] worked toward the fruitful and successful results they achieved during 1995, a year which, President Berisha emphasized, was characterized by major historic growth and speed in carrying out reforms. Throughout this process, the government and the administration made a particular contribution. The exceptional assessment of reforms in Albania by European and international institutions makes a detailed explanation and communication of this message essential. Besides this, President Berisha continued, the major tasks for this year are the precise implementation of the government’s program and the drafting of the new program for Albania in the 2000s. The new program will be based on three fundamental principles: first, maintaining the country’s pace of progress continues to be a decisive condition not only for 1996 but also for a different Albania in the coming century. Second, the growth and consolidation of the social dimension is a major objective of our future program. Increasing pensions and salaries for lower-income categories, identifying the poorest groups and areas, and drafting projects to help them. Providing people with employment constitutes a fundamental goal of our social program. And third, the country’s integration into Europe, which entails modernizing all laws, procedures, and practices in accordance with those of the European Union. The year ’96, President Berisha emphasized, is the year of decisions. The date of these elections will be set together with the party leaders, or when the term of the current parliament ends. The elections will be completely free and fair, and there is no doubt that the democratic forces will win them.
Balluku file
From the legacy collection of the PPSH
Minutes of the meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the PPSH, dated 2 and 3 July 1974
From the legacy
collection of the PPSH
Balluku
file
Minutes of the meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the PPSH, dated
2 and 3 July 1974
p.7
BIBLIOTEKA KOMBËTARE
TIRANË
The 5th anniversary of the appearance of the first issue of the newspaper “Rilindja Demokratike” is celebrated
Projects for Albania in the 2000s
Meeting of President Berisha with members of the government and senior executive officials
Yesterday, the President of the Republic Sali Berisha held a meeting at the Presidency with members of the government and senior executive officials.
Yesterday, the President of the Republic
Sali Berisha held a meeting at the Presidency
with members of the government
and senior executive officials. He congratulated them,
and worked for fruitful and successful results
achieved during 1995, a year which, President Berisha
stressed, was characterized by major historical growth and
speed in implementing reforms.
Throughout this process the government and
administration have contributed in a special way.
The extraordinary assessment of reforms in Albania by
European and world institutions makes a detailed
explanation and transmission of this message necessary.
In addition, President Berisha continued, this year’s major
tasks are the exact implementation of the government
program and the drafting of Albania’s new program for
the years 2000. The new program will be based on three
fundamental principles: first, maintaining the country’s
speed remains a decisive condition not only for 1996 but
also for a different Albania in the coming century. Second,
the growth and consolidation of the social dimension is
a major objective of our future program. Increasing
pensions and wages for low-income categories, identifying
the poorest groups and areas, and drafting projects to help
them. Employment of people is a fundamental goal of our
social program, and third, integration of the country into
Europe, which implies the modernization of all laws,
procedures and practices in line with those of the European
Union.
The year ‘96, President Berisha stressed, is the year of
solutions. The date of these solutions will be set together
with the leaders of the parties or when the term of the
current parliament expires. The elections will be completely
free and fair, and there is no doubt that the democratic
forces will win them.
