DP — the party of the future Interview with the Secretary General of the DPA, Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu At this Congress, the Democratic Party will confirm that it is the party of the future, the party of progress, the alternative that will achieve the Albanians’ ultimate goal: jobs, prosperity, security for everyone, and Albania’s integration into European structures P. 2

Member of the DPA Presidency

President Berisha received representatives of the parties participating in the DP Congress ...the overthrow of a number of Eastern Europe’s harsh dictatorships, as well as later the building of the rule of law and the market economy, and Albania’s integration into Europe. President Berisha briefed them on the progress of democratic reforms and emphasized: Yesterday, President of the Republic Sali Berisha received delegations from foreign parties that have been invited to take part in the third Congress of the Democratic Party. Among those present were Alois Mock, President of the European Democratic Union and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria; Klaus Vele, Secretary-General of the EUCD; Sandro Fonda, Vice-President of the European Parliament; Pjer Lëlunsh, Adviser to President Chirac; Klaus Franke, Member of Parliament and head of the defense committee in the German Bundestag, CDU; Lojze Peterle, Chairman of the PDKS and Vice-President of the EUCD, as well as former Foreign Minister of Slovenia; and many others. President Berisha welcomed them and expressed his gratitude for the assistance and support their parties had given the Democratic Party from the very beginning of its struggle for democracy in reforms and stressed: “The solidarity you show toward the Democratic Party, alongside its courage and determination to implement its program, constitutes one of the main factors behind the achievements in democratic developments in Albania.” President Berisha also expressed his gratitude for the valuable assistance and significant support that the governments and institutions of their countries have given and continue to give Albania, placing it among the countries most favored in terms of aid per capita. All the representatives of the foreign parties assured President Berisha that the Democratic Party had their parties’ full and continued support. Wishing it success in the forthcoming elections, they expressed their conviction that the Democratic Party fully deserved this victory.

Bashkim Kopliku Member of the DPA Presidency The SP platform — a return to socialist misery The promise of “eating with a golden spoon” and the realization of an “empty stomach”: the basis of the SP program Albania’s socialists are worried about transforming state property into private property because they have the idea of domination in their minds! And people without property can be dominated and exploited more easily, because they are kept tied to the state for “their daily bread,” just as they were kept for 45 years P. 3

Mitro Çela The economic wonder Only faith in the free-market economy and open society makes a country developed. Only when people believe in something can they move the world. P. 5

Took part in the meeting of the Council of Europe’s Legal Affairs Committee Yesterday in Paris, the latest meeting of the Legal Affairs Committee of the Council of Europe was held, in which Mr. Pjetër Arbnori, Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, also took part as a permanent member of this committee.

Yesterday, President of the Republic Sali Berisha received delegations from foreign parties that have been invited to take part in the third Congress of the Democratic Party.

New visions for Albania in the year 2000

. Today the Democratic Party is holding its Third National Congress. This is the congress of the achievements of the Democratic Party’s governance over four consecutive years. It is the Congress of conclusions about Albania’s achievements and the removal of communism as an institution. It is the realization of the implementation of democracy in every sphere of the activities of the individual, the state, and all the other components of a society. Without such determined governance, cleansed of the dogmas of the past, without governance filled with democratic and anti-communist aims, the country would find itself at a crossroads. The cleansing of Albanian life of the phenomena of dictatorship, bringing the country into democratic processes, and everyone’s participation in democracy are among the achievements that make further governance by the Democratic Party credible. The four years of reform were an example of the rapid and high-quality cultivation of capitalist forms in the economy and democratic leadership in politics. They reflected a commitment to a free Albania, with free people, free thought, and freedom of action in the service of the individual and the country. The four years of reform identified Albania as a country with European standards and, at the same time, built it up in all the forms of economic and political development found in these countries. Albania is now the country taking the fastest steps toward that goal. It was the Democratic Party’s government that brought it into the family of European countries by joining the Council of Europe, and recently a special agreement has been reached with the European Union. Albania enjoys the support of European countries, European Union. Albania enjoys the support of countries such as the USA, Germany, Italy, etc., and at the same time is able to act as a partner in politics. In four consecutive years—which is not a long time for a transformation—the parameters for rapid development were achieved, meeting the interests favored by the market economy and likewise realizing social aspirations under the optimal conditions for reform and a transition period. The defining feature of Albanian life today is an opportunity aligned with the attributes of the market economy and the freedom to enrich oneself, one’s country, and society in every field: the economy, culture, politics, etc. Economic reform is now at the height of its development. People owning property rather than the collectivization of property; freedom to work rather than commands overriding freedom; accelerating development rather than scrutinizing ideas; consumption rather than de-consumerism—these are what the Democratic Party’s future governance will encompass. Where there are socialists, there is only socialism; that is, where there are socialists, there are only social problems. Their alternative is one of creating problems, not solving them; it is a form of de-privatization and subordination of reform to the official doctrine. Socialism means centralization, not decentralization; it means wasted time, which in turn means slower development. With us, everyone wins. Leadership by the Democratic Party is not ideological but pragmatic. Movement and speed are what will raise people to the level of Europeans who enjoy prosperity, jobs, and security. The economic and political space for everyone is what only the Democratic Party can create, in order to bring progress and integration to all. Equal opportunities will bring achievements for everyone. Today’s Democratic Party Congress is the congress of visions for Albania in the year 2000. Only the Democratic Party has the energy and the necessary experience to bring Albania’s development in line with its potential. Only under democratic governance will Albanians feel free, fulfilled, secure, and progressive. Albania wins with us.

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- The PS is nothing other than Nano’s mistress, with whom for three years he has maintained only a spiritual relationship P. 3