Mass refusals to stand as candidates for the Socialist Party p. 3

From the PS heritage archive Minutes of the meeting of the 6th Plenum of the Central Committee of the 6th Congress of the PPSH, dated 16–17 December 1974 (Balluku, Dume, Çako) p. 7

The PD’s achievements over four years and its alternatives for the years ahead The red front: a serious threat to democracy The former Albanian secret police has decided to extend its parliamentary scenario throughout Albania Yesterday the meeting of the National Council of the PD held its proceedings, with the following agenda: 1. The date and theme of the PD congress. 2. Co-optation to the National Council of the PD. 3. Restructuring the PD’s central bodies, establishing expanded committees for the forthcoming PD electoral program, and further consolidating the sections. At this meeting, President Berisha proposed to the National Council that committees be created by field to draw up the PD’s electoral program: the Finance Committee; the Defense and SHIK Committee; the Legal Committee; the Public Order and Local Government Committee; the Construction, Housing and Tourism Committee; the Economy Committee; the Employment and Social Support Committee; the Culture and Sports Committee; the Health and Environmental Protection Committee; the Foreign Relations Committee; the Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment Committee; the Mining Industry and Energy Committee; the Agriculture and Food Committee; the Education Committee; the Science Committee; the Youth Committee; and the Women and Family Committee. These committees will be chaired by ministers and will include parliamentarians, specialists, and the most distinguished experts in these fields from central institutions and elsewhere. The Culture and Sports Committee will be chaired by Mr Gjergji Zheji, while Mr Afrim Krasniqi and Mrs Flutura Hasko will chair the Youth Committee and the Women and Family Committee, respectively. President Berisha also proposed to the National Council of the PD that a Political Secretary’s office operate alongside the Democratic Party Presidency, and proposed Mr Ferdinando Xhaferri for this post; an Organizational Secretary, proposing Mr Ylli Vejsiu for this post; and a Secretary for International Relations, proposing Mr Albert Brojka. The President also proposed that the PD National Council co-opt the following gentlemen as new members to fill the remaining vacant seats: 1. Prof. Dr. Baki Berberi, director at the Ministry of Finance, principal expert on the privatization of the economy in Albania. 2. Prof. Dr. Besnik Gjongeci, rector of the Agricultural University. 3. Doctor of Sciences and Associate Professor Antoaneta Deda, physics lecturer at the Faculty of Natural Sciences. 4. Doctor of Sciences and Associate Professor Koço Bode, Deputy Minister of Education. 5. Doctor of Sciences Areti Stringa, lecturer at the Faculty of Economics. Following discussion, the National Council approved President Berisha’s proposals. At this meeting, the President again focused on consolidating the PD sections and emphasized that the PD would conduct its forthcoming electoral campaign at the section and household level. He also stressed the serious danger posed to democracy by the red front. The former Albanian secret police has decided to extend throughout Albania its parliamentary scenario, [a garbled passage in the source]. The position of the PD structures is, and will remain, unwavering: they will conduct a cultured, peaceful campaign, based on the strength of argument to persuade people, and will avoid all provocations with which the fundamentalists at the head of the red front seek to burden the political climate. In his speech, PD Secretary General Tritan Shehu emphasized that the former communists had decided, in their latest efforts, to create this front. This decision, taken two months earlier at a secret meeting of Ruçi, Imam it, Gj inushi, was the basis for subsequent events. Their main aim was to draw other parties into this front as well. Apparently, they tried to approach the Right-Wing League by using their self-proclaimed fascist, Kalakula, as an intermediary. We are pleased to note that the anti-communist union rejected this front and therefore did not fall into the trap that had been laid. In his speech, Speaker of Parliament Mr Pjetër Arbnori thanked the PD parliamentary group for initiating the major package of economic reform laws that changed Albania’s face. He also thanked all Democratic MPs for maintaining their composure and for their restraint, which kept them from falling for the unprecedented provocation concocted [source unclear]. Their composure alone helped, Arbnori stressed, to ensure the democratic election law was duly passed. We will publish it everywhere and distribute it around the world so that everyone can learn what kind of democratic law those who dream of dictatorship have opposed. Meanwhile, Vice-Chairman Ali Spahia discussed the latest political developments in the country, stressing that the destructive, destabilizing role of the leadership of the left-wing extremists and their allies PSD, PAD, PDD is becoming increasingly clear. On the evening of 1 February, we found ourselves—and remain—faced with a genuine unconstitutional coup, with the clear aim of preventing debate in parliament through violence, in short, of rendering parliament nonexistent. PD Deputy Chairman Mr Engjëll Hysenbegasi spoke at length about the organizational work of the Democratic Party’s grassroots sections, once again underlining the importance of the work of section groups in the forthcoming electoral campaign. The participants then discussed at length the issues raised in the session. The National Assembly was scheduled for 4 April 1996, with the theme: the years ahead.”

. The Democratic Party is presenting its electoral platform. It is now thoroughly organized and determined to achieve a resounding victory, based on the parliamentary foundation that democracy has established over these four years. The announcement of committees to draw up the electoral program is merely the conclusion of what the democratic government has accomplished for Albania and the Albanians over these four years. These achievements represent a rich and successful experience in launching democracy in Albania. Its start was very successful. It gave Albania a face oriented toward the future, the face of Europe, which is also the natural ideal of the Albanians. Yesterday, the National Council of the Democratic Party also announced its forms of electoral organization, which are based on the citizen and democratic culture, debate and success, approvals and new ideas. The Democratic Party’s electoral program itself now has a history: it is the story of the rapid creation of an Albania with the capacity to achieve great things, the ability to compete, and the possibility of hope. It has now secured the democratic space for affirming the individual, affirming ideas, and putting them into practice. Without leadership such as that provided by the Democratic Party government, the foundations of Albanian capitalism could not have been laid; without the courage to move forward, there would have been no initiatives for a completely transformed Albania. This year it is now ready to call itself to another stage: that of affirming the country as a fully European country, conscious of its place in this part of Europe. Certainly, governing by the Democratic Party has not been easy. It inherited from the past an important part of Albanian politics—the left-wing opposition. Its leadership has not changed at all from its predecessors and founders. It avoided all responsibility for reform, constantly invoking the platforms it knows best: crime, communism, and the remnants of dictatorship. Finally, confirmation of their aim was not lacking either—the design of the red front, which was not realized because even the Reds have dwindled in Albania. The electoral campaign is a continuation of democratic governance in Albania. It continues to uphold the principles of democracy, which have now been affirmed by the vast majority of people. The Democratic Party’s program is founded on concrete, well-supported paths for maintaining the pace of development, further improving it, and undertaking the functioning of Albanian society. It possesses the entire progressive intellectual arsenal, all the experience needed to put reforms in Albania fully and practically into effect, all the credibility required for Albania’s further integration into Europe, and all the opportunities and support of the Albanians to organize their possibilities for a better and happier life. The campaign is concrete. It respects the normal functioning of life and encourages debate. The party’s sections and other organizations will demonstrate the success of democratic governance. They will also present its continued functioning in accordance with democratic principles. No one is excluded from debate and confrontation. Everyone has had a part in Albania’s achievements and will have the opportunity to contribute to these achievements in the future as well. Face-to-face dialogue with everyone and about everything will be the motto of all Democratic Party members and activists. Much has been done, and this is assurance that we can do even more. Consolidating the rule of law and the principles of democracy, maintaining the pace of development, solving social problems and extending the benefits of capitalism to everyone, and fully integrating Albania into Europe: this is the Democrats’ motto for the future and for the face of Albania in the year 2000. No Albanian wants this reversal, and it is everyone’s duty to avert it—the unknown extreme left, led by the current leadership of the Socialist Party.

Tritan Shehu in Italy. He met with Buttiglione Buttiglione: The anti-genocide law is right. It is a help to the SP itself and its reform Any return of the former communists to power will be tragic for Albania’s destiny Tritan Shehu in Italy. He met with Buttiglione The DP is a party of Europe Buttiglione: The anti-genocide law is right. It is a help to the SP itself and its reform Any return of the former communists to power will be tragic for Albania’s destiny Yesterday, DP Secretary General Tritan Shehu and MP Mitro Çela held a meeting with the National Secretary of the Italian Christian Democratic Union, Roko Buttillione, at his headquarters. Tritan Shehu informed Mr Buttillione about the latest political developments in Albania, the work to restructure the DP and its sections, and the date of the DP congress, and invited him to attend; he gladly accepted the invitation. He also informed him about the latest macroeconomic indices and explained the anti-genocide law and the electoral law in detail. He gave him an overview of the political situation and the Albanian political forces on the eve of the election campaign, and asked that the new Italian government place cooperation with Albania at the centre of its attention, encourage Italian investment, and give priority to developments in Kosovo (Continued on page 2)

Kosovo is the most dangerous flashpoint for peace in the Balkans. Therefore, the committee must become aware of the importance of resolving the Kosovo issue Page 3 Photograph of a man wearing glasses at a table.

Idajet Beqiri signed for the internment of entire families The SP spokesperson in the role of crime’s defence attorney ON THE DAY’S PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE Conditions of internment in [unreadable?] Krujë, as [unclear text] D E C I S I O N In support of internment from the city of Krujë, for [unclear text] 1 - Ali Baba Duka, born in 1926. 2 - [unreadable name?] Duka, born in 1933. 3 - [unreadable name?] Duka, born in 1935. 4 - [unreadable name?] Duka, born in 1939. 5 - [unreadable name?] Duka, born in 1940. F A M I L Y IDAJET BEQIRI [unreadable handwriting] [seal] P.3