Press conference of President Berisha
The reform of the PS degenerated into a clan war
The PS, having broken away from Ramiz Alia, must denounce the coup at the United School, the Shkodra massacre and the other crimes. It must dissolve itself, be refounded and continue as a social democratic party, without Ramiz as a member and without Ramiz's ministers
With the suspension of its electoral activity, the Socialist Party will turn into a dry log in the garden of democracy
The Democratic Party remains completely and totally a pro-Western force; nothing can shake the future government, Parliament and Albania away from its major direction
The outlook for relations with the U.S. is very good. The U.S. have given Albania invaluable assistance and have guaranteed it strong support in consolidating the institutions of democracy.
Berisha described the PS as a corpse in a fierce clan war, where we can distinguish a necessary new pseudo-reformist orientation and a feature of the Ramizist orientation. He likewise called the fiercest part of the struggle within the PS the question of responsibilities and of a historical guilt for which it is 'inevitable to openly denounce or deny'.
After characterizing it as an exemplary pro-Western party, he said that the voice of its chairman should be heard. Berisha said that the departing group can no longer be a limitless group and a base of support. According to him, Albanian society needs a civilized left and not Stalinists. 'Otherwise it will remain a party stamped by the communist past'.
Responding to journalists' interest regarding the possible formation of a new political force on the left, the President pointed out that a genuine reform of the PS could constitute such an alternative. 'What is happening with the Socialist Party are entirely expected events. It has been pluralized, but not reformed. So it could even reach self-dissolution. The harshest features of the ongoing clan struggle concern the issue of responsibilities in relation to the dictatorship,' he said.
Because of its past and its reforming process, the PS has become part of an undisputed international debate. He explained that the forces of the European left are concerned that it is unable to clarify its position on the communist legacy. According to the President, if this party denounces the dictatorship and its crimes, it may have a social-democratic future; otherwise it remains blocked by Ramizism.
Next, the head of state spoke about relations with the United States of America. He declared that Albanian-American relations are very good and that American support for Albania has been extraordinary. The President stressed that the U.S. have played an important role in strengthening democratic institutions and in the country's Western orientation. According to him, no internal or external factor can divert Albania from this course.
He assessed that the government, parliament and institutions must firmly preserve the Euro-Atlantic and pro-Western direction. In his comment on the opposition, Berisha said that the lack of deep reform is leading it toward political degradation. He underlined that, in order to win citizens' trust, the left must decisively break with figures from the communist past and embrace European social-democratic standards.