Interview with Mr. Tritan Shehu, Secretary General of the DP Interest of the Italian left in the Malshovists in the PS Andreata considers the law on genocide entirely natural p. 2 There is nothing that binds Albanian intellectuals to those political forces led by former ministers of the Albanian secret party; nothing binds Albanian intellectuals to those political forces led by people who call for skull-cracking, for a St. Bartholomew’s Night, for civil war, for physical clashes—to the pseudo-intellectuals faithful to Lenin’s terrorist theory. What do they have to do with them? Nothing. Nothing binds Albanian intellectuals to those who keep Marx’s theory in their program, who celebrate Enver’s birthdays, nor to those who, as if they were in a Masonic society, expel the reformers overnight and make the group of intellectuals within the Socialist Party leadership into a pariah—the Malëshovists.

From the PS heritage archive The Tirana Conference, 14–20 April 1956 Another dark page in the history of the Party of Labour Dictator Hoxha—the gravedigger of the Conference p. 7

Press conference of President Berisha Speaking at yesterday’s press conference, President Berisha said: “First of all, I greet you and would like to acquaint you with the results of the official visits I made during the past month. As you know, from 16 to 19 January, at the invitation of Chinese President Jian Zemin, I made a visit to the Republic ... We confirmed our position that we recognize one China and that Taiwan is Chinese territory. The truth is that the market reforms undertaken by Ten Hsiao Pini have had indisputable results, and I have always thought, and still think, that he was a successful author ... first and foremost because they never forget what the Albanians have done for the country, because for 50 years, in the most absurd way, Radio-Tirana put Israel at the top of its list of insults every day. And I wondered how it was possible for a people to show such loyalty, generosity and virtue toward us. Now we are in the world, and in Israel they are representing Albania and the Albanians with dignity. And I truly found them strongly attached and well established in their motherland, but also with very powerful fraternal feelings for Albania and the Albanians, for the people they left here. Maltese investors have shown interest in investing in Albania My other important visit was to Malta. I went to Malta at the invitation of President Bonici to return the visit that former President of Malta Tabone had made to Albania. Malta and the Maltese people, even during the years of dictatorship, demonstrated friendly feelings toward Albanians and deep sympathy for a people with an unparalleled history of resistance, but who were plunged into bondage, dictatorship and an isolation unprecedented in their history. This was one of the reasons for the Maltese prime minister’s visit to Albania. He did not come to bring any friendly message to the dictator or his entourage. He came here to bring a friendly message to the Albanian people. I held talks with the prime minister of Malta and other senior officials; we agreed to intensify cooperation in all areas of mutual interest. Maltese investors have ... the names of Fasko and other Faskos. So the PS is nominating former members of parliament who were among the most extreme members of the PPSH as candidates for parliament. Do you consider this a crisis in the PS? Secondly, today the opposition press accuses you of calling the Socialist candidates “young lads.” What would your response be? And thirdly, how do you explain the fact that intellectuals are turning their backs on the PS? Answer: Regarding the first question, the PS is nominating former PPSH members of parliament as candidates. There is nothing to be surprised about here; we would be surprised if it were otherwise. I can say here that the PS differs today from the Party of Labour of Albania by about as much as the Party of Labour differed from the Albanian Communist Party. This is a matter of continuity. Changing names is not a new practice; that has happened before. Therefore, given this determination to continue and not reform, putting PPSH candidates on today’s lists is, in my opinion, nothing new; it represents continuity. As for the other question, about the press accusing me today, I think this accusation has to do with a clan war within the PS, because it was the PS and its leaders who first talked about “young lads” and “turë”—not me. After the genocide law, they declared in their newspaper that the PS had suffered no harm from the genocide law, because it would fight the next battle ... all, I greet you and would like to wish you success with the official visits made during the past month. As you know, from January 16 to 19, at the invitation of Chinese President Jian Zemin, I visited the People’s Republic of China. The purpose of this visit was for me to express my deep gratitude, and that of Albanians as a whole, to China, the Chinese people and government, for the valuable and generous assistance they have given Albania and the Albanians during a very difficult period in their history. This assistance, when China began opening up to the world and embracing market laws—in other words, adopting a different course—was denounced by the friends of Lin Biao and Cian Cini in Tirana, who followed the course of these political adventurers until the 1990s. With greater calm, they are no longer guided by ideologies; with greater calm, during other visits, and now, the Chinese leadership says thing, feelings are another. and I came friendship between our two countries. I can confirm to you that I have found the same willingness on the part of President Jian Zemin, the Chairman signed a joint communiqué, which provides a truly sound and Kosovo regarding a peaceful solution to the problem and a solution for Kosovo, in Kosovo, as well as— he was the successful architect of Perestroika. If Gorbachev’s Perestroika reached only the economic mechanism, which was a chain mechanism adopted also by Ramiz Alia in 1990 to put the Albanian economy into operation, Ten Hsiao Pini’s Perestroika is based on the principles of the market. And not in the 1990s, but as early as the 1970s. Its results were undeniable: Shanghai had developed very rapidly over a short period. So I can tell you that relations between our two countries will develop on a new footing, and there is no doubt that Ten Hsiao Pini’s course has also had a strongly positive impact on how China deals with its problems with its neighbors. A new chapter in friendship and cooperation between Albania and Israel. I made another very important visit on January 29–31 to Israel, where I went at the invitation of President Vajzman and Prime Minister Shimon Peres. During this visit, I expressed my thanks and deep gratitude to the government, the President and the Prime Minister for the great concern and deep feelings shown toward the Albanians over these years. The Israeli government and Israel as a whole have been very compassionate and willing to help during these years. I also emphasized that our two peoples, peoples with a very long history, whenever they have met, have met as friends and parted as friends—a fact well known and greatly valued, from the simplest citizen to Israel’s foremost citizen. The fact that Albania is the only country in which the number of Jews increased during the Second World War is the most indisputable evidence of Albanian virtue; it is also an act, a powerful symbol of the friendly ties and the bright future of cooperation between our two countries. A prominent Israeli figure, an outstanding man, told me: ‘I am very glad that you are here today.’” The Prime Minister of Malta in Albania. He did not come to bring a other senior officials, and we agreed to intensify cooperation in all fields of mutual interest. Maltese investors showed interest in investing in Albania; they have invested in Korçë, established a school, and have a major tourism project for the South, as well as other projects. In addition, cooperation in culture and education with this country, which has helped Albania, has been quite intensive. “Albania” of Malta is one of the effective humanitarian organizations that came to help the Albanians in the 1990s. So, one can...

At the meeting yesterday with Member of the European Parliament Hoze - Maria Mendiluce, the President of the Republic discussed reforms in Albania, the country’s integration into the region, and the situation in the region, focusing on the issue of Kosovo. Mr. Mendiluce said he conveyed the thanks of all his colleagues in the European Parliament for the achievements of the reforms Albania had carried out under very difficult conditions, as well as for the progress made in the country’s integration into Europe. He assured President Berisha of the European Parliament’s sympathy and support for further integration, as well as for the Kosovo issue.

Former Sigurimi agent denounces:

I want to assure you that I was impressed when, in the city of Shanghai, the mayor hosted a dinner for me in the hall where the Sino-American communiqué had been signed by Çu En Lai and President Nixon, both now deceased. At that moment, the Albanian leadership, headed by Enver Hoxha, denounced it as high treason and led the country into the deepest isolation in its history. On the other hand, as one purpose of this visit, I told the Chinese leadership that friendships are not based on ideologies; ideologies are one thing, feelings are another; the Albanians have respect and friendly feelings toward the Chinese people, and I have come here determined to open a new page in cooperation and friendship between our two countries. I can confirm that I found the same willingness in President Jian Zemin, the Speaker of Parliament Shao Sheng, and other senior officials of the People’s Republic of China. During our stay in China, we signed a joint communiqué, which provides a genuine, solid basis for lasting and friendly cooperation between our two countries. We decided to expand cooperation in all areas of mutual interest. Chinese investment in Albania is certainly of particular interest to me. On international issues, China showed great understanding for the position of Albania and the political leadership of Kosovo regarding a peaceful resolution of the problem First of all, because we will never forget what the Albanians did for people, because for 50 years, in the most absurd way, Radio Tirana had put Israel at the top of its list of targets for insults every day. And I kept wondering how it was possible that a people who had shown us such loyalty, generosity and virtue could now be treated this way by its regime. That is why I am very happy to see you here today and to welcome you as a representative of this people.” We signed agreements with Prime Minister Peres, with whom we held the main talks: agreements on investment and on cooperation in the fields of culture, science and education. I also made a series of visits. I can say that a new chapter is opening in the friendship and cooperation between our two countries. Prime Minister Peres and President Weizman described the visit as historic, because Albania truly is a small country, but it has a major place in the collective memory of the Jewish people as a whole. Concrete and real prospects for cooperation with this country exist in every field, including education, agriculture, high technology, tourism, and so on. Here, too, I gave particular attention to investment. I met with well-known Israeli entrepreneurs and businesspeople. They showed great interest in coming to invest in Albania. Several companies have signed contracts. They will begin work soon, and this constitutes a very important element of cooperation between our two countries. I also met with the Albanian-Jewish community. They were very closely connected to Albania. I assured President Weizman that the Jews in Albania have represented their people and Judaism with dignity.

Ndrekë Gjini, RD: Names are circulating on the PS candidate lists and the visits to Malta were an entirely successful visit and served to promote understanding and expand cooperation between our two countries. During these visits I invited my hosts. I invited China’s President Zemin to visit Albania, and he accepted the invitation with great pleasure. I invited President Vajzman and Prime Minister Peres to visit Albania, and they accepted the invitation. I invited President Bonici and the prime minister of Malta, and they accepted the invitation. I think Albania’s relations with these countries will develop more rapidly and intensively, to our mutual benefit. President Berisha then answered journalists’ questions. The PS is nominating former PPSH MPs as candidates Ndrekë Gjini, RD: The names circulating on the PS candidate lists include

For my part, I think that such a practice of tutors and young lads is an insult to the Albanian electorate, which votes neither for tutors nor for young lads, but votes for sons and daughters, men and women, who will represent it with dignity in the Albanian parliament, without needing an instructor or a tutor. So, they themselves came up with the theory of the young lads. It is the leadership of the PS that presented this theory as a winning line in the next elections. It was the wrong choice, and now they are trying to pin it on the President. I assure them that their attacks give me nothing but pleasure. I worry when they do not attack me; then I ask myself: what has happened to me? This, of course, without denying my respect for my opponent. So this is an internal struggle in the PS, even though it is directed at me; in fact, it is an internal struggle of ideas and clans within the PS leadership. Someone regretted that the theory of the young lads had been brought out, and now they are attacking. Why have intellectuals turned their backs on the PS? I think that in 1992 the Albanian intellectuals, the Albanian intelligentsia as a whole, and Albanians in general voted freely; in that historic free election, they chose precisely the path Albania has followed over these four years. Although they rightly criticize and rightly have objections, they are clear and level-headed about the fact that Albania is moving along this path toward a European future. They see that over these four years Albania and the Albanian people have become entirely different, that their dignity is different, that they have never been closer to Europe than they are now, that they are free, and that Albania is a country of free people. (Continued on page 3)

Former State Security agent denounces: There is a pact between the Serbian and Albanian communists to dominate Kosovo. According to the Pietro Zannoni press office. “There has always been a pact between the Serbian and Albanian communists to preserve Serbian domination over Kosovo.” This is the substance of the information sent by the Pietro Zannoni press office, referring, as always, to the former State Security agent. p. 4

In the press statement by Mr. Godo, chairman of the PR, in its third paragraph, as published yesterday in the newspaper Republika, referring to the notice from our press office about the meeting between the President of the Republic and Mr. Godo, it says: “It is not true that I said the roundtable was a success because it began with the approval of the 4 percent threshold.” We note that our notice states verbatim: “Mr. Godo told the President that, by calling the roundtable, he intended to set the 4 percent threshold, the person with the electoral law, as well as to speed up its approval.” As can be seen, the word “success,” claimed by Mr. Godo, does not appear in our text. Our office regrets the inaccuracy of Mr. Godo’s press statement.

The LDSH meeting was held . All forces must unite to prevent the return of the former communists. p. 4

Dokle lies as usual . The PS will achieve in 5 months the miracles it failed to achieve in 50 years. p. 4