The mothers of the martyrs ... Who does not know them? We have all seen them when they gather together and, noble and sensitive, their brows adorned with the wrinkles of the years, walk with a light step to the cemetery. They each carry a bunch of flowers in their hands. They are among the first and most beautiful flowers spring has brought. And this is no coincidence. No, it is a conscious, annual rite. For their good sons, too, were and remained flowers. They remained ever-fresh flowers in the lap of our great mother Albania. The many years that have passed have taken their toll. Their hair has turned white and their figures have become slightly bent. But not their hearts—their hearts they could not touch. Some of them are no longer alive. But can we say they are absent? No, in no way! Today, none are absent. Here they are, all of them, with black headscarves, each with a bunch of flowers in her hand, a ray of remembrance in her eyes, and a mountain-sized heart in her breast. They stand silently beside the white marble where the red star blazes, gazing pensively at a group, as if trying to find some thread linking them to that moment when they received the news of the fall and, at the same time, the disappearance. Then they bend down and caress with trembling hands the marble, the letters of the name. All this may seem unreal, like a legend. It does indeed have something of legend about it, but it also has life—what we all admire: the endurance, honour and survival of the Albanian mother. For the Albanian mother herself is half life and half legend. Then, bent over as before, together again, they slowly walk away with light steps, making no noise so as not to disturb the sleep, the dream... The glances that turn back from time to time toward the cemetery say: “We will come again. Here you have us, at your head.” They are the mothers of the martyrs, who wherever they may be (even if they have died), every May 5 stood before the body of her slain son and did not give way, did not lose heart. “Do you know him?” they asked her. “Yes,” the brave mother replied. “Is he your son?” the fascist asked again. “No,” the courageous mother replied even more firmly, continuing, “He is not my son. HE IS THE SON OF ALBANIA.” And, like Misto Mame, Albania has many martyrs, the finest sons. It also has daughters such as Margarita, Bulja and Persefoni. We remember and honour them all today. I say today because I have in mind the organized way in which everyone speaks of them, sings songs of honour, recites poems, gathers flowers, and raises a clenched fist as a sign of gratitude and a pledge not to trample on their blood and dreams. But the greatest tribute to them is this: to love Albania as they loved it. We remember the martyrs every day. Every step we take toward tomorrow, every good deed we do in the service of the homeland, is also a tribute and a remembrance to them, to the many dreams, joys and desires they had, which their contemporaries brought together under one common denominator: Albania. But I have another reason for recalling today the words of mother Sillos: “He is the son of Albania!” Alongside historical truth, these words also carry a legacy—not merely the legacy of one mother, but of all those Albanian mothers; it is the legacy of the martyrs’ blood. Today, more than ever, Albania needs its sons and daughters. Swearing by the blood and dreams of the martyrs, let us prove ourselves worthy and show that we truly are the children of Albania. Sons and daughters of Albania From the memories of the martyrs’ mothers, I want to recall today the words of mother Sillos, the mother of Misto Mame, now dear and unforgettable. When the fascists took her and placed her before the body of her slain son, she my son. HE IS THE SON OF ALBANIA.” We remember and honour them all today. ... and steadfastness of the martyrs, let us build our lives LUAN M. RAMA

On the eve of May 5, Martyrs’ Day, the National Committee of Veterans of the Albanian People’s War, the May 5 Committee and the Writers’ Union organized the event “The Homeland and the Martyrs” at the Palace of Culture; it took place yesterday afternoon. The chairman of the Committee of Veterans of the Albanian People’s War, Shefqet Peçi, was also present. The meeting was opened by the permanent secretary of this Committee, Myqerem Fuga, who spoke, among other things, about the role of war veterans and the families of the martyrs; war veterans, military personnel, etc. were present. May 5, Martyrs’ Day of the heroic National Liberation War led by the legendary commander Enver Hoxha, is the day of remembrance for those who never spared themselves, for it is said of them that they gave their brightest sons from among the ranks of our people. Through their great deeds, they represent a new epic on Albanian soil. (ATSH Office)

- The 17th Plenum of the Central Committee of the Albanian Party of Labour held its proceedings - The Plenum discussed the release of comrade Ramiz Alia from leading functions in the Party, in order to comply with the Constitutional Law adopted at the current session of the People’s Assembly on the rights and duties of the President of the Republic. In the discussions, it was emphasized that the election of comrade Ramiz Alia as President of the Republic serves the unity of the people and the good of the homeland. The speakers, after congratulating him on successfully and devotedly carrying out his new duty, noted comrade Ramiz Alia’s ongoing contribution to the strengthening of the Albanian Party of Labour. They said that under his leadership the two fundamental documents for the future of the Party of Labour—the drafts of its Programme and new Statute—had been drawn up. These documents, which will also be improved through broad discussion among Party members, provide it with a courageous and scientifically developed alternative for the present time. In his speech, comrade Ramiz Alia stressed that he had accepted the nomination for President, guided by the will of the people and the Party. He expressed his conviction that the members and sympathizers of the Party would understand this correctly and intensify their efforts to strengthen their unity. Comrade Ramiz thanked the comrades of the Plenum and the Party leadership, as well as all its members and various cadres, for their fruitful comradely cooperation, for the assistance they had given him, and for the trust they had placed in him. At the conclusion of its proceedings, the Plenum decided: 1. To release comrade Ramiz Alia from the functions of member of the Central Committee, the Political Bureau and First Secretary of the Party of the Central Committee of the Party, following his election as President of the Republic. 2. To leave the election of the First Secretary to the forthcoming 10th Party Congress. Preparations for the Congress are to be directly led by the Party Central Committee and the Preparatory Committee for organizing the 10th Congress, which was appointed at the Party meeting in March 1991. 3. The 10th Party Congress is to be held on June 10, 1991. PARTY OF LABOUR Tirana, May 4, 1991

on June 10, 1991. Tirana, May 4, 1991

Addressed to the President of the Republic, Ramiz Alia His Excellency Mr Ramiz Alia President of the Republic of Albania On the occasion of Your Excellency’s election as President of the Republic of Albania, I have the pleasure of extending my congratulations to you, together with my best wishes for success in your high office. I am convinced that under your leadership the Albanian nation will continue its determined efforts to realize its ideals for a free, democratic and prosperous society. Please, Your Excellency, accept my best wishes for your personal health and happiness. TURGUT OZAL President of the Republic of Turkey TO THE PRESIDENT, MR RAMIZ ALIA TIRANA Dear Mr President, On behalf of the leadership of the national association “Jusuf Gërvalla” in New York, USA, we respectfully and with deep gratitude offer you our heartfelt congratulations on your election to the post of President of the Republic of Albania. This constitutes a victory for the Albanian people, who at this moment of political change need more than ever a leader with genuine national and democratic feeling. Your election to this high office, of national importance, has filled us with pride and confidence that the future of our people lies on the right path of democracy, freedom, democracy and inevitable progress. We are proud of our people, who have once again shown that they are capable of acting with maturity and composure, and of their humane and democratic leader, a son of the homeland and standard-bearer of democratic reforms, without being influenced or directed by the pseudo-patriotic efforts of careerist elements who, as is evident from their personal interests, seek to obstruct reform through pseudo-patriotic manoeuvres. Dear Mr President, We, the members of the leadership of the National Association “Jusuf Gërvalla”, take this opportunity to express our support and solidarity with all the democratic reforms begun and guided by you with due maturity, as well as our confidence that no one will have the power to halt the triumph of these democratic reforms. We also hope that true political pluralism will prevail, with your Party and all the other parties and political groups in our homeland—Albania—where, above every kind of interest, there will be the goodwill to raise the people’s wellbeing and continually democratize their lives. In conclusion, dear Mr Ramiz, once again we wish you good health and success in your work for the good of the nation and the homeland, and for the good of the great Albanian cause. WITH BROTHERLY GREETINGS, THE LEADERSHIP OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION “JUSUF GËRVALLA” New York, USA New York, May 1, 1991 His Excellency The President of the Republic of Albania Mr Ramiz Alia TIRANA Highly esteemed Mr President, On the occasion of of Albania, I send you my congratulations. Following the first multiparty elections in the Republic of Albania, your election constitutes an important step in the process of political changes in your country, which is being followed with great interest in the Federal Republic of Germany. This development is part of the broad and profound process of change throughout Europe, which means peace and freedom for the people of our continent. It also offers new prospects for expanding German-Albanian cooperation. I wish you—also on behalf of the German people—success in meeting the difficult tasks facing you and the Albanian people, which require the cooperation of all democratic forces, and I take this opportunity to convey my very best wishes for your personal wellbeing. RIHARD FON VAICZEKER President of the Federal Republic of Germany TO The Democratic League of Albanians in Croatia heartily congratulates you on your election as President of the Republic of Albania in the first democratic multiparty parliament. At the same time, we express our deep satisfaction with the People’s Assembly’s Resolution concerning Albania and Kosovo. As always, Kosovo and the other territories inhabited by Albanians in Yugoslavia are with you and support a democratic Albania. We wish you good health and a long life. For the D. L. S. K. Your brothers: Prof. dr. TOME BERISHA Dr. MUHARREM NEJGJPI Prof. ZEF MARKU TO COMRADE RAMIZ ALIA PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA TIRANA We, the Arbëreshë of Kampomarino (Italy), high office of President of the Republic of Albania. On this occasion, we Arbëreshë of Kampomarino, like all the Arbëreshë, [text as printed is incomplete]. XHANINE MASTINERARDI Via Risorgimento 32/A Campomarino (CB)