The decision of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly concerning the measures to be taken by the People’s Republic of Albania in connection with defining the place and role of the army, the internal affairs bodies and the judiciary under conditions of political pluralism opens up new prospects for further strengthening the rule of law and deepening democracy. Familiarisation of the communists and the entire people with this decision places before them the sacred duty of contributing fully, each in their own way, to strengthening the defensive capacity of the Homeland. Today it must be clearly understood that the secure future of the Albanian homeland belongs to the people, and that the armed forces are solely in the service of the Homeland; they serve and implement state policy in the field of defence and security of the People’s Republic of Albania. Every sector of political-social and economic-cultural activity has its own particular functions. The army, in particular, is distinguished by discipline, order, readiness and intensive training. These characteristics are, and must remain, constant at all times. Indeed, they must be strengthened and further developed. Without order, discipline and readiness, there can be no reliable defence of the homeland. It is in this spirit and with this sense of high patriotic responsibility that the decision of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly must be understood. Pluralism in our country will also be reflected, and will have its consequences, in the life of the army, the bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the judiciary. But our armed forces must be trained and educated in the spirit of patriotism and determination to defend the freedom and independence of the homeland, its inviolability, and the security of its interests and those of the people. Pluralism will be reflected in the organisation, life and activity of commands, staffs and all other bodies. It will affect every structure, from the ordinary soldier to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. No haste or hurrying should be tolerated in studying this important decision. It must be studied with great care and prudence, with maturity and high patriotic vigilance. In the work of studying and drafting the bills entrusted to the Council of Ministers, the judiciary has a special role. It must be fully and competently engaged in this study, in order to strengthen discipline and order and increase responsibility. The purpose must be clear to everyone: in the army, not the slightest degree of discipline, readiness, preparation or combat capability must be impaired. This is especially important today, when war is being waged in the Persian Gulf, with events unfolding very rapidly; when the situation in the Balkans is full of tensions and remains unsettled, while in neighbouring Yugoslavia there is even talk of civil war. The picture of the present situation is, and must be, clear to everyone. The high national interest demands that the army be united, strong and at a high state of readiness, so that at any moment it can defend, as it has until now, the country’s freedom and independence and the victory won by the people through great sacrifices. The deepening of democratic processes in the country, for everyone and especially for our Armed Forces, strengthens the defence of the Homeland. Without the country’s freedom and independence there can be no democracy; it is impossible even to speak of it. Therefore, everyone who works and struggles to democratise the life of Albanian society must, first and foremost, give their own contribution to further strengthening the country’s defensive capacity. To call at this time for the organisation and disorganisation, structural changes and creation of new structures in the army is to call for the weakening of the defence of the Homeland. Political pluralism, which will also be reflected in the army, as in every sphere, must lead to only one alternative: strengthening the defence of the country. The people, as in every great state, must always be helped to fulfil, more than ever, their great civic mission: one cannot be a democrat and a conscientious fighter without first being guided by democratic principles and being convinced and determined to defend the country’s territory and future. This must not be forgotten and will never be forgotten. The roots of democracy are also there, and all society is interested in and committed to deepening it further and making it genuinely more effective. Our army is the army of the people, in their service, whose purpose is to defend the freedom, independence and territorial integrity of the homeland. This duty must be fulfilled and borne with prudence and responsibility, without impairing anything—in fact, by strengthening the country’s defensive capacity through the rigorous and conscientious implementation of orders and military discipline, and by raising combat readiness on the basis of training exercises, small and large, intensive and of high quality. Along this path, our army and all our armed forces will reaffirm the excellent traditions they have inherited and created, and will further enhance them; they will once again affirm more strongly their noble, freedom-loving and democratic service, and their exemplary loyalty to the supreme interests of the homeland and the people. We heard on radio and television, and through other media, that students at UT are demanding the removal of Enver Hoxha’s name and the repeal of the decree concerning the nation’s illustrious figures. This demand deeply offends us, and we do not believe it expresses the feelings of our sons and daughters who are students. It expresses neither culture nor democracy nor respect, nor national feeling; rather, it is a dangerous provocation against the people by certain forces that truly do not wish Albania well today. The name and work of Enver Hoxha cannot and must not be erased by partial demands. Enver Hoxha belongs to the Albanian people, and only they have the right to speak about his work, including through a referendum. We mourned his death with tears, because he was the commander of the National Liberation War, the head of the first people’s government, the initiator of agrarian reform, collectivisation and the electrification of poor Albania—a country without debt, drugs, prostitution, terror or privileged blocks, and free and sovereign. He was the one who led the people for nearly half a century towards mass education, the expansion of healthcare, telephone services and roads reaching every corner of Albania. It is in our hands, through work and not words, to improve the quality of these achievements and make them like Europe. We ask that our letter be made public, so that Albanian public opinion may learn our position on these actions. 1. The organisers of this demand must understand the historical responsibility of this moment. If the figure of Enver Hoxha is erased, it will create a dangerous precedent on a national scale. 2. We ask, and have asked, that television, radio and the press, which communicate with the people, continue broadcasting and publishing the work created by the people in honour of Enver Hoxha. 3. In the name of the future, we ask that, as we look towards Europe, the broad and profound reforms we have undertaken be improved, while the achievements of the past 50 years are protected. Let history and historians do their work in the future. 4. The Presidium, and subsequently the new Assembly emerging from the 31 March elections, should publicly distance themselves as soon as possible from such demands, which touch the feelings of our long-suffering people. 5. Enver Hoxha University does not belong only to the students and professors currently there, but to all those who have studied and will study there. The university is the centre of our renaissance, and only Enver Hoxha brought it into being. Comrade Ramiz, We, the people, see you as the foremost factor in national unity, helping to overcome the insecurity of these troubled times for our nation and our Albania. We believe that in the future as well you will avert any issues of conflict and hostility. We will do everything to follow your advice for this purpose. We call upon representatives of the Party of Labour, the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, the Ecological Party, the Union of Labour Youth of Albania, the Professional Union of Albania, the Union of Women of Albania, the Democratic Front of Albania, the veterans, associations and everyone who wishes to preserve national unity and avert conflict to join together in good faith for this purpose and with tolerance, as you will advise us, dear Comrade Ramiz Alia. Greetings from the workers’ collectives: NPD, N. Pyjore, NTSH, N.TANAX, water and land-reclamation services, PTT, the hospital, SMT, «Bardhok Biba» secondary school, «Martanesh» eight-year school, «Pashko Vasa» school, road maintenance, agricultural reserves, savings bank, social insurance and informatics, procurement, and the construction enterprise, Reshen town-centre sector. Rrëshen, 8 February 1991 We, the people, see you as the foremost factor in national unity, helping to overcome the insecurity of these troubled times for our nation and our Albania. We believe that in the future as well you will avert any issues of conflict and hostility. We will do everything to follow your advice for this purpose. We call upon representatives of the Party of Labour, the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, the Ecological Party, the Union of Labour Youth of Albania, the Professional Union of Albania, the Union of Women of Albania, the Democratic Front of Albania, the veterans, associations and everyone who wishes to preserve national unity and avert conflict to join together in good faith for this purpose and with tolerance, as you will advise us, dear Comrade Ramiz Alia. Greetings from the workers’ collectives: NPD, N. Pyjore, NTSH, N.TANAX, water and land-reclamation services, PTT, the hospital, SMT, «Bardhok Biba» secondary school, «Martanesh» eight-year school, «Pashko Vasa» school, road maintenance, agricultural reserves, savings bank, social insurance and informatics, procurement, and the construction enterprise, Reshen town-centre sector. Rrëshen, 8 February 1991

An ATSH correspondent was informed yesterday at the Council of Ministers’ office about the measures taken by the executive committees of the people’s councils in the districts of Tirana and other districts of the country, in implementation of the tasks assigned by the Council of Ministers to ensure normal working conditions for the activities of political parties and other political and social organisations. As is known, permission has been granted to the Democratic Party, and publication has begun of its newspaper «Rilindja Demokratike», which is also being distributed throughout the country. Representatives of the organisations are in contact with the city council to secure normal working conditions for the activities of other political parties and social organisations. The Council of Ministers has authorised the provision of premises in the capital for the Democratic Party to house its apparatus, as well as an office in the Council of Ministers’ premises for its parliamentary group. Measures have been taken to provide suitable premises for all political parties and organisations that have requested them for their activities, including in other districts. For the Republican Party, authorisation has been granted to publish its newspaper, which will appear shortly. A building, 2 cars, telephones, typewriters and other office supplies have been made available to it. The Council of Ministers has also given the Democratic Party a loan of 1 million lek and 50 thousand dollars to cover the costs of its activities. The Democratic Party was also provided with another building in Tirana, with the appropriate equipment. To meet the needs of this party’s branches in other towns around the country, offices, typewriters, telephones, a meeting hall and 6 cars have so far been provided. Efforts are being made to secure the same facilities in other districts as well. To meet the needs of the (Continued on page 2)

Yesterday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Reis Malile, received the delegation of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs led by Alessandro Orafini. Yesterday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Reis Malile, received the delegation of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs led by Alessandro Orafini, special envoy of Minister De Michelis. Minister Reis Malile stressed that the visit of the Italian delegation and the fruitful talks held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs between the Italian delegation are an expression of the shared desire and will to advance still further the traditional relations between our two countries and peoples. He said that the steps taken are valuable evidence of the discussions held between the delegations of the foreign ministries of our countries to give concrete form to bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest. During the meeting, the usefulness of frequent contacts at various levels was recognised, in order to review more broadly and regularly the progress of cooperation in the economic sphere and especially in other fields, and to exchange views on taking these relations further. During the meeting, the usefulness of frequent contacts at various levels was recognised, in order to review more broadly the progress of cooperation in various fields and advance relations between the two countries. (ATSH)

According to a false rumour spread in many towns and villages across the country that several ferries would arrive in Durrës yesterday to transport Albanian refugees abroad, thousands of people from various districts surged towards the seaport in Durrës during the previous night and the early hours of yesterday morning. This coincided with the arrival of the regular ferry on the Durrës–Trieste line. Although the situation was explained to them, they continued to remain there. Groups of people attempted to enter the port with their families. They were stopped by the law-enforcement forces, who intervened and pushed them back. According to information from the port, no one without the necessary documents was allowed to board the ferry. In the circumstances of these disturbances, the ferry departed at 11:00, about 3 hours earlier than usual. Groups of young people blocked the road to the port and pelted the law-enforcement officers with stones for several hours. The officers repeatedly used loudspeakers to call on them to stop throwing stones and disperse. Throughout this time, they threw stones and broke the windows of several institutions. They also smashed windows and committed thefts in many shops and service establishments, bookshops, pharmacies, etc. In addition to industrial goods, foodstuffs and various other items were stolen and damaged. Several shop windows and residences were damaged, including a bookshop in the city centre. Extensive damage was caused, the value of which has not yet been assessed. The law-enforcement forces managed to disperse them around midday. The spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Isuf Baça, confirmed that 35 police officers were injured, while only 2 of the offenders presented themselves for medical treatment. Forty-two people were detained by the law-enforcement forces. So far, there is no information about any fatalities. (ATSH)

Our editor approached the Minister of People’s Defence, Comrade Kiço Mustaqi, asking him to comment on S. Berisha’s statement, broadcast by «Voice of America» on 7 February 1991, that rumours had reportedly been circulating in Albania that «there is a possibility of a coup d’état». «I am not surprised that “Voice of America” is talking about a coup d’état that is supposedly being prepared. “Voice of America” is fond of such terms; indeed, its funders are also organisers of coups d’état in other countries of Latin America and Africa. But it is striking that the insinuation of such a slander against Albania was made by an instigator, a leading figure of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha. It is beneath consideration to dwell on every insinuation made about our people’s army, about its supposed plans for a coup d’état, the use of violence, etc. These are fabrications that could be concocted only by sick minds or minds inflated by lust for power.» Our army is the army of the people, and its mission is to defend the freedom and independence of the homeland and its territorial integrity. At a time when war has broken out in the Persian Gulf and the situation around us is very unsettled, its combat readiness must be raised more than ever. Therefore, this attempt to smear the army with accusations of every kind and portray it as an anti-people’s army is not only an attack against the army; it also expresses an anti-national attitude, which can only please the enemies of the People’s Republic of Albania.» (ATSH)

COMRADE RAMIZ ALIA FIRST SECRETARY OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE ALBANIAN PARTY OF LABOUR TELEGRAM TIRANA