Press release by the PD spokesperson The party of the exes is proclaimed Press release by the PD spokesperson A declaration of self-discrediting The party of the exes is proclaimed As became known from a notice published yesterday in Tirana, a group of exes (hafish? [?] of the Sigurimi and communists, etc.) have proclaimed the Party of the Exes, in order to attack [?] the PD. These exes, instead of apologizing to the PD for having damaged its image through their person and their actions, have decided to leave behind their blocks of informers, black-market trading, and dirty, repulsive work [?] to attack the PD. The problem is not simply that they attack the PD, its structures and its principal leaders, since everyone has the right to say what they think. What is inconceivable in the political, and indeed human, world is the fact that precisely these people, whom the PD expelled as former collaborators of the State Security and corrupt officials, have the shamelessness to lecture the PD on morality, and even to accuse it, as they put it, “of the grave situation the country is going through.” But who, specifically, leads this party? It is headed by Artan Hoxha, recruited as a collaborator of the State Security when he was still in high school. He has been mentioned as one of the pioneers of corruption during his time as Minister of Trade in the 1992 democratic government. He has been described as a man who abused the mandate as minister given to him by the PD, taking possession of and privatizing property that did not belong to him. They do not say for nothing that, as far as Artan Hoxha is concerned, you cannot find a single person in all of Durrës, a city of around 100,000 inhabitants, who speaks well of him. This time we have painted the chairman’s portrait, but in future issues we will acquaint you with the deeds of the others in the fields of corruption and services rendered to the State Security. On this founding committee and in the Party of the Exes [?] are many people with tarnished reputations and biographies, including Çakoq, Vasil Gjika, Lindita Piftri, Simon Puta, Esat Çoku, etc. The PD, like the Albanian people, sees in this group of people the true culprits behind the damage to its image among the people and to democracy as a whole. The public has learned of a declaration made by several former Democratic Party members of parliament, who claim to want to renew the PD. Among other things, the declaration claims that they were forcibly sidelined by the Democratic Party. The truth is that those who signed this declaration were members of the People’s Assembly who could not stand for re-election because the law on the vetting of public figures was implemented; there was no forcible sidelining of the kind they describe. Their exclusion is a consequence of their own morals and those of a former minister who signed alongside these former MPs. On this occasion, the Democratic Party emphasizes that it is not in the least impressed by such impotent declarations, behind which stands a handful of people who could not even uphold their own morality during the communist regime. On the other hand, the PD has never confused, and will never confuse, its founders and longstanding activists with these spies and corrupt individuals, who, by exploiting their deeds, damaged the PD’s image to some extent. The PD will continue to be a party of progress, winning by defending rights, what is honorable, what is modern, and what is national. The honorable, the modern, and the national. Through its spokesperson, “ZP,” under the heading “Following approval of the motion for intervention in Albania,” the Socialist Party expresses concern in two subheadings: “Will the Italian soldiers protect the people or Berisha?” and “Albanians want exercises, not soldiers.” “ZP” does not express these concerns as its own, but through the words of its allies Bertinotti of “Communist Refoundation” and Bossi of the “Northern League,” two extremist political groups, one left-wing and the other right-wing, that seek to break up Italy. The applause for and amplification of the statements by these Italian extremist political forces in “ZP” is no coincidence. Backed by these and other allies, the Socialist Party, both openly through its local branches and covertly, inspired and assisted the rebel command posts in the military coup to detach southern Albania and seize power by force in the rest of Albania, in order to reinstate… State. Dozens of parties and former officials? were on this commission, many with their records and biographies: Dode Kaqaj, Vasil Gjika, Lindita Prifti, Simon Puta, Esat Çoku, etc. The DP, the true causes of the damage to its image among the public and to democracy as a whole. achievements and accomplishments Sali Berisha, provided the main assistance in meeting the demands of Albanian miners, metallurgists and geologists and all employees of Albania’s mining industry—demands industry, who brought them to the coalition themselves. Throughout its national and international activities, SPMSH has been founded on internal democracy, transparency and diversity of opinion, and on the most important principle of its organizational life: defending the compromise of the interests of workers in Albania’s mining industry. SPMSH enjoys undisputed respect and authority both domestically and internationally. It is a full member of the International Miners’ Federation and has been accepted as an observer in the organization of the European Parliament, union movement, comprising the most vital part of Albania’s workforce. this led the people... a group of former members. The DP found among these bearers of corruption, at least temporarily, until they left, people who tarnished and exploited the DP’s name as a means of political and material gain. Unfortunately, this has cost the DP in the eyes of the Albanian people. Democracy cannot be built by former Sigurimi agents and thieves found in the party of former officials, but only by honest and fair people who place above all else freedom, democracy and the Homeland. The last thing former spies and the corrupt can do is “demand answers from the DP, which prevented civil war in the country and defended democracy, endangered by the communist military coup”; instead, they should publicly apologize to it and to all the Albanian people for the spying and theft they committed under the DP’s mandate.

The SP is beginning to show its doubts about the multinational forces From the way it has begun interpreting the arrival of the multinational forces in Albania, it is easy to understand that the SP is worried. The Socialist Party may have been certain that it would prevent the multinational military mission from being approved by Italy’s leadership. It derived this assurance from the “no” stance of Communist Refoundation through Fassino, and of the “Northern League” through Bossi, especially the former, which is in coalition with Prodi. Since the Italian communists’ veto and Bossi’s veto failed, and the arrival of the multinational force became a fact, the SP began to show its disapproval, naturally in a disguised manner; otherwise, its discrediting in the eyes of the world would deepen even further, as an extreme-left political force that not only acts harshly [?], but also brings back communism (bringing us Haxhi Qamilas primitivism). Expanding on a statement by Bossi, “ZP” quotes him as saying: “You cannot put your head in the lion’s mouth hoping you will come out alive again.” “ZP” repeated this statement as a real threat to the Italian soldiers who will come to Albania. This is reinforced by “ZP,” especially when it declares in the article “June elections at risk” that “any accidental or provoked incident involving these (multinational forces) could be used by Berisha as a pretext to postpone the elections.” More than that, this should serve as a sinister warning that something may happen, and when the SP says this, it is well known that it means it. As we emphasize regarding Bossi, whom “ZP” favors for its own purposes, we will accept as real but When the plans of the Italian communists and Bosi fact, the PS began to show its disapproval, naturally in a veiled manner; otherwise, its discredit in the eyes of the world would deepen further, as an extreme left-wing political force that was not only responsible for Albania’s crisis and destruction, but would also be accused of obstructing the establishment of order and calm, so that the authorities elected by the people could begin their normal work and aid could reach and be distributed to the people calmly and without problems. Bearing in mind that this statement was made on a platform where PS representatives were also present, it is clear that the Socialist Party is under pressure from these rebel committees, and that the arrival of the multinational military forces will drive these committees out; for Albanians and the world, they are illegal and are sources of crime, destabilization and terror in these areas. The departure of these committees from the scene would mean neutralizing the policy of violence and escalating tensions; it would mean that the violent revolution and the scenario implemented in the south by the Socialist Party and its armed wing would be left halfway or fail. This is why the PS has begun to express doubts and disapproval about the multinational military mission in Albania. MENTOR SHEHU

Statement by the Independent Miners’ Union of Albania The Miners’ Union of Albania was born in the fire of the struggle against communism. It was born as a historical necessity, alongside the other forces of the anti-communist coalition, in that coalition that constituted the country’s main political force at the time: the Miners’ Union of Albania. The Albanian workers grouped around it, its consistent struggle, its rallies and demonstrations, and its Bridge Strike of 25 May 1991 made possible the fall of the Nano Government and the holding of democratic elections three years early. The IMUA, as a Western-style union, declared in its Statute to be a staunchly anti-communist organization, has stood alongside the democratic forces aspiring to true freedom and democracy since December 1990. It has continuously supported the legitimate institutions of the Albanian state; it has supported the institution of the President as a high institution of the Republic of Albania and the Assembly of Albania. The basis for this support is and remains our shared struggle to overthrow the dictatorship in Albania, our shared struggle to build the foundations of democratic institutions, and, at the same time, our commitment to implementing the decisions of the historic Congress of the Miners, Metallurgists and Geologists of Albania on 14–15 October 1995, reaffirmed at the meeting of the National Council on 10.4.1997. On the other hand, the struggle for democracy, and the successes and achievements of the Miners’, Metallurgists’ and Geologists’ Union, are inextricably linked to this institution. The President of the Republic himself, Mr. Sali Berisha, has provided the main assistance in fulfilling the demands of the Albanian Miners, Metallurgists and Geologists and of all the workers in the Albanian mining industry. These demands are known to everyone, and especially to the workers of this industry, who have brought them before the coalition. Throughout its national and international activity, the IMUA has been and remains guided by internal democracy, transparency and diversity of opinion, as well as the most important point in its organizational life: protecting the compromise of the interests of workers in the Albanian mining industry. The IMUA enjoys undisputed respect and authority at home and internationally. It is a full member of the World Miners’ International and has been accepted as an observer in the European Parliament organization E.U.R.A.C.O.M. It is a powerful union in the Albanian trade union movement, with the most vital section of Albanian workers among its members. As such, it appeals to all the Albanian people, in the grave situation in which we find ourselves, to condemn all those forces which, for the sake of their own interests, led the people… Continued on page 3

Reflection on a Bolshevik Page 3

On Sunday, 13.04.1997, at 11:00, a meeting of the National Council of the PDSH will be held in the meeting hall of the Palace of Congresses, to analyze the situation in the country and the measures that need to be taken. Members of the National Council and members of parliament are invited.

Page 3 God, who gives and takes life, will honor Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi for appointing Piero Fassino as Secretary for European Union Affairs with the Commission of the Democratic Party of the Left in his cabinet.

Correction for ZP The article “The Corrupt Members of the DP Resign,” published in “ZP” on 08.04.1997, contains inaccuracies and deliberate malice, as the following facts confirm: 1. Mr. Mili Tapia is not the Mayor, but the Chairman of the Patos Municipal Council, and has not announced his resignation at any local level, nor has he been accused of corruption or other motives in the Municipal Council. 2. It is true that, at the meeting of political parties on 2 April 1997, the departure of the Municipal Council Secretary, Mr. Eqerem Zavalani, and the framework for restructuring Local Government were discussed, and compliance with and proper implementation of legal procedures by state bodies were requested. 3. We distance ourselves from the article and confirm that it has nothing to do with the P.S. in Patos or its leaders, but is the product of the mind of the anonymous BK. The Chairman of the PS and Chairman of the Socialist group in the Patos Municipal Council MYZALJEN HOXHA

In yesterday’s editorial, the newspaper “Albania” wrote, among other things, that “For more than a month, the absence of the press meant that one of the most difficult periods in Albania’s history, with more events, pain and doubts about its future, went undocumented.” We wish to clarify that this statement is inaccurate. During the month when the other newspapers were absent, the newspaper “Rilindja Demokratike,” among them, was published regularly, with interruptions of three or four days. Thus, it can be said that this period was documented in the pages of the Albanian press. It could certainly have been documented more fully if those newspapers that did not come out had also been published, including “Albania.” We know the reasons ourselves why the newspapers were not published. It would have been good if they had explained them to their readers as well. “RILINDJA DEMOKRATIKE”