President Berisha congratulates Archbishop Anastas and Orthodox believers on the Feast of Easter Yesterday morning, the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, and his wife went to the Cathedral of the Annunciation in the capital to greet His Eminence, the Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania, Anastas, and all Orthodox believers on the occasion of the Feast of Easter. “I am pleased that this feast is celebrated better every year. I want to express my great appreciation for your contribution and that of all Albanian clergy of the three faiths, who, during this period of Albanian national rebirth, gave invaluable support to the revival of religious values,” President Berisha told Archbishop Anastas. For Albanians, President Berisha emphasized, the renewal of religious values is very important, since the dictatorship attacked them savagely; alongside isolation, this was the most heinous crime ever committed, without precedent. Therefore, the renewal and revival of religious values is an extraordinarily positive factor for the present and future of the Albanian nation. For his part, Archbishop Anastas praised President Berisha’s contribution during these years of democracy to the revival of religious values in Albania. He emphasized that for years Albania had fallen into the deepest darkness of religious culture. “These last five years may be called the years of the resurrection of religion, and this is undoubtedly linked to the rebirth of democracy. Albania is being reborn,” he said, “and moving forward.” On this notable day of the Easter celebration, other figures from politics, science, the arts, etc. also came to this church to offer their congratulations.

The Democratic Party’s major objective is achieved Growth of the Albanian economy by 16% Annual report of the UN Economic Commission for Europe A major achievement for Albania Albania recorded the highest growth among the countries of Eastern Europe. This was confirmed by the annual report of the UN Economic Commission. The figure shows growth of 16 percent, surpassing even last year’s figure, which was 11 percent. This is also the most accurate verification of Albania’s economic reform. Although the reports refer to comparable periods, growth of this kind has not been recorded in any Eastern European country, where average economic growth is no more than 6 percent. It is well known that the reform began amid a bleak situation in the Albanian economy, with a total lack of production and only a minimal proportion of the workforce employed. According to figures for the last two years, this situation has come to an end. Growth of 11 percent in ’94 and 16 percent in ’95 marks an enthusiastic move beyond the lowest level of poverty and establishes an optimistic foundation for all Albanians. No Albanian, from the poorest to the richest, can deny the upward trajectory of the Albanian economy, which aims at prosperity and reducing unemployment. The pace of development is likewise at optimal levels, promising further growth of the Albanian economy into higher, more productive and more socially beneficial levels. Under an economic reform and transition considered extremely difficult and bound to have social effects, Albania is now beginning to reap the results of its sacrifices. Democratic governance and Albania records the highest economic growth during 1995 Economic growth in 1995 registered an unexpected and rapid rise in Central and Eastern Europe—with the exception of Russia, according to reports here. This is the picture presented in an annual report just published by the UN Economic Commission for Europe. As regards the countries of Eastern and Central Europe that are in the transition phase, average economic growth is found to have risen by 6 percent, while Albania reached a peak of 16 percent. These figures have dynamically succeeded in rebuilding their industries, the report adds. Today, Western Europe absorbs 50–60 percent of exports from the states of Eastern and Central Europe. The countries belonging to the Commonwealth of Independent States (the former Soviet Union) performed poorly. Economic growth fell significantly in all these states, with the exception of Georgia and Armenia, according to the Economic Commission. According to “Frankfurter Allgemeine” Berisha and the Democratic Party are close to victory[?] of the optimistic foundations richest, can deny the Albanian economic growth trend, which aims at prosperity and reducing unemployment. Likewise, the pace of development is on a higher, better-quality and more socially oriented footing. Under an economic reform and transition considered very difficult and having unavoidable social effects, Albania is now seeing the results of its sacrifice. Democratic governance and the functioning of a decentralized state have brought the individual, with all his energies, into the arena. Within the economic freedom guaranteed by the state, he has brought his thinking, initiative and creativity to life. Through courage and the support of a capitalist state, he has managed to reduce unemployment, establish profitable production, and build a life in which he can contribute to the state through the tax system. All the laws seem to have achieved their purpose. Growth of 16 percent expresses the pace of development of the Albanian economy and has undoubtedly had an impact on Albania’s entire social system. Thus, the pace of development is no longer a theoretical attribute of reform, but a reality secured thanks to the economic policy of the Albanian government. The high rate of economic growth is also a guarantee for investment. It has long been said that Albania is a country where one can make a profit, and this is even more evident in the figure above. A survey conducted in recent days among small and medium-sized Italian investors found that around 10 percent of their capital has already been invested in Albania, while around 84 percent of them are ready to put their money to work in the Albanian economy. The above figure was announced by the world’s most important international institution, the UN. Naturally, the left will say that this figure is electoral propaganda. If that is the case, then the UN, too—there is no objection—says that Albania should be governed by the Democratic Party and its government. The Socialists have no intention of reducing their nihilism toward the Albanian reform. They have no intention of examining Albania’s achievements over these four years as part of their program. They are not willing to share in the successes of the Albanians. They have still not placed themselves within the country’s reform and future-oriented situation in order to achieve what they should have achieved decades ago. Albanians, too, have an opposition which, unfortunately, is not merely the opposition of a political party, but that of a nation.

Statement by the DP spokesperson The new leaflet of the red front, “The Pole of the Centre,” in its lead article dated 14 April 1996, entitled “Dokle Traps the Commission,” with the subtitle “We had also put spies on the list, but you passed them,” writes that PS deputy chairman Namik Dokle, after receiving the list of PS parliamentary candidates from the Commission for the Verification of Personalities, declared boldly that: “We had deliberately included on the list spies who were former collaborators of the State Security Service, and they passed the ‘screening’ without difficulty. This casts a shadow of suspicion over all the Commission’s work.” The DP spokesperson states: First, this statement by comrade Dokle was made after the Commission for the Verification of Personalities in [They] had been former collaborators of the State Security Service or informers and witnesses in political trials, among them the most prominent figures of this party, such as its first deputy chairman S. Pellumbi, Secretary-General G. Ruçi, and many other senior PS leaders. Thus, comrade Dokle’s statement, more than an accusation concerning the work of the Commission for the Verification of Personalities, is irrefutable evidence that the leadership pyramid of the PS, at both the centre and the grassroots, has been taken over by the most deeply compromised elements of the Albanian secret police. Second, comrade Dokle’s accusatory statement about the presence of other spies in the PS candidates who were not uncovered by the Commission for the Verification of Personalities, [where] former spies and informers are to be found. With this statement, Dokle tells them: you have been exposed, you have fallen, while others can keep quiet about those of us who got away. Third, this statement also reveals the cynical intent of its author, who strips them entirely of personality and human dignity. Like Ramiz Alia’s buffoon in 1991, with this statement he seeks to depersonalize the new PS candidates in the eyes of the Albanian electorate even before they have been elected. Finally, someone may rightly accept such a statement as a joke by the joker Dokle, but we emphasize that playing games with spies—a long-standing Dokle tradition—is a grave insult to democracy, and we are certain that the electorate of the State and who have passed the “X-ray” without obstruction, and this [unclear] cleansing of my [unclear] is to be carried out only by the Commission”. The PD spokesperson stated: First, Comrade Dokle made this statement after the Commission for the Verification of Personalities found, in the list submitted by the PS for verification, that around 27% of its candidates for parliament

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Dokle denounces the PS: “We have other spies too” If Dokle does not reveal their names among all the PS candidates, suspicion will fall on them Page 3

A suggestion for S. Pëllumbi Servet Pëllumbi and everyone else know very well that the file cannot be opened by making a statement at a press conference; there are laws and procedures governing these matters. Therefore, since Pëllumbi publicly expressed his wish to have his file opened, let him follow the procedures applicable in such cases, complete a written request and send it to the commission. Under the law, the commission is obliged to make anyone’s file public. Page 3

In the certificate he received from the Commission, in addition to the article concerning genocide, Islami was also cited under another article indicating that he had apparently been a bit of a spy. In other words, while studying in France, he was a resident agent of the former communist secret police and sent extensive information to the detriment of his comrades.

On April 16 and 24, the trial of former senior PPSH officials accused of crimes against humanity and genocide Today at the Tirana court Page 2

A new column in our newspaper Starting today, the newspaper “Rilindja Demokratike” will launch the column “Spies in the Albanian press”. In this short column, we will publish only the names of those spies who appeared in the press the previous day, as well as the headlines of the newspapers in which they appear.