New name for the party: SOCIALIST PARTY OF ALBANIA At yesterday’s session of the 10th Congress of the PP, chaired by Ismail Lleshi, a delegate from the city of Tirana, the Congress proceeded to approve its decisions, principal documents and resolutions. The President of the Republic, Ramiz Alia, and the Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Kastriot Islami, took part in the proceedings of this session. Representatives of political parties, organizations and associations in the country, guests from the districts, and Albanian and foreign journalists were also present. Diplomatic corps officials and functionaries accredited in Albania were in attendance. At the beginning, the session chair read the decision of the 10th Congress of the PP approving the Party—A Historical Necessity,” and and Audit Commission.” The delegates approved these reports. Then, on behalf of the Commission for Changing the Party’s Name, Xhelil Gjoni took the floor. In this connection, among other things, he said that various proposals had been made. It had been proposed that the Party’s name remain as it was, or that it be called the Renewed Party of Labour. There had also been proposals to call it the Socialist Party of Albania or the Party of Albania’s Socialist Future. These and other names, he stressed, raise a concern with two aspects. First, in the Party’s draft programme, the Party’s strategic and tactical tasks are changing. We have in mind a new, complex stage of development, both internal and external, as well as the views and proposals being put forward here at the Congress. Second, by taking the name Socialist or Socialist Future, the Party will be better connected and communicate better with the outside world, with parties on one side—specifically, those of the European left. The commission’s general view is in favour of the Socialist Party, since that name has received the most proposals. The two proposals presented were put to a vote. The delegates approved by a majority vote the name: Socialist Party of Albania. They stood up and applauded. Next, the delegate from the district of Pogradec, Paqësor Zeneli, read the notice from the Commission tasked with drafting the Party’s programme, setting out the comments and suggestions made by Party members and delegates for its further improvement. The notice on comments and proposals concerning the Party’s draft Statute was read by Bujar Xhafa, a delegate from the district of Krujë. The Congress approved the establishment of a commission to rehabilitate Party members who had been unjustly expelled or punished. The Congress also approved a Resolution on the countryside. In addition, the Congress approved a Resolution addressed to the youth of Albania. The Congress then moved on to the final item on its agenda: the election of the Party’s governing bodies. Delegates, members and candidates of the Central Committee, and members of the Organizing Committee of the 10th Congress of the PPSH took part in this session. The new Central Committee of the Socialist Party of Albania will have 81 members, while the Party’s Control and Audit Commission will have 17 members. The voting results will be announced to the delegates today at 9 o’clock, when the final session of the Congress will also be held. (ATSH)

Almost all of us have experienced moments in our families that were both moving and delicate, when the time came to find a name for a newborn daughter or son. We have pondered for a long time, even well before the birth; we have opened dictionaries and asked many friends and acquaintances, wanting the name to be as beautiful as possible. But also to be Albanian, and to have its own meaning. Just such a situation arose yesterday in the Congress hall. The delegates, gathered as if in one large family, discussed what name the Party would bear in the future. The atmosphere was truly intimate, but also deeply felt. In any case, it was sincere. Warm-hearted. This was not simply a matter of changing a sign. Nor was it a matter of fashion or of fulfilling the heartfelt wish of the overwhelming majority of Party members and its sympathizers, who, in keeping with the new conditions (Continued on page 4)

YESTERDAY IN THE PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY Yesterday afternoon, the People’s Assembly continued its work in a plenary session. The Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Kastriot Islami, gave the floor to Prime Minister Ylli Bufi, who presented the program of the new government for the country’s stability. Yesterday afternoon, the People’s Assembly continued its work in a plenary session. Islami, gave the floor to Prime Minister Ylli Bufi, who presented the program of the new government for the country’s stability. At the next session, the prime minister and other members of the government answered deputies’ questions about the government program. Then the debate began. The deputies who spoke expressed their approval of the program and composition of the government, and made observations about several issues that must be addressed using all the intellectual and physical capacities of the people, so as to overcome as quickly as possible the very difficult situation in which the country finds itself. After the debate was closed, the deputies approved the program, composition and structure of the government for the country’s stability, with Ylli Bufi as prime minister. The Assembly will continue its work on Monday at 17:00, considering the draft laws concerning the financial police and violations in agriculture. (ATSH)

At the invitation of Foreign Minister Muhamet Kapllani, the Italian Foreign Minister Xhani de Mikelis arrives in our country today, 13. 6. 1991, for a visit. Recently, meetings and talks have been held between the foreign ministers of the two countries, with the main aim of further advancing the relations of friendship and cooperation between Albania and Italy. This visit is also a good opportunity to give new impetus to these relations, at a time when far-reaching democratic transformations are taking place in Albania and developments in our region and in Europe make this cooperation a necessity, to the benefit of both our peoples and countries, as well as peace and stability in the Balkans, the Mediterranean and beyond. (ATSH)

The University of Calabria’s Department of Albanian Language and Literature organized the International Seminar “Albanian Studies Today: Results and Prospects” on June 7 and 8. In addition to Arbëreshë researchers from Calabria and Sicily, the seminar was attended by Albanologists from other Italian universities and from various countries, including the USA and Germany. From Albania, Professor Shaban Demiraj and Dr. Jorgo Bulo, director of the Institute of Linguistics and Literature of the Academy of Sciences, were invited. The seminar marked the inauguration of the doctoral program in Albanian studies, organized by the Department of Albanian Language and Literature at the University of Calabria. The seminar held its proceedings in three sessions: a linguistics session, a session on the history of culture, and a literature session. In the linguistics session, Professor Shaban Demiraj delivered the paper “The Importance of Arbëresh Dialects for the History of the Albanian Language,” while in the literature session Dr. Jorgo Bulo delivered the paper “Literary Historiography (Method, Results and Problems).” Discussions were held on the papers and presentations given by participants, and the scholarly standard of the seminar’s work was praised as an important contribution to the development of Albanological studies. (ATSH)

Between breaks in the Congress sessions. (Photo: N. Xhufka)

Before us lies the difficult task of bringing about a comprehensive renewal of the Party in all its aspects.

of the 10th Congress of the PPSH The 10th Congress of the PPSH, having heard and discussed in detail the reports presented on behalf of the Party’s Central Committee and the Control and Audit Commission, decided: 1. To approve the report of the Party’s Central Committee, “The Renewal of the Party—A Historical Necessity.” 2. To approve the report “On the Activity of the Party’s Central Control and Audit Commission.” 3. To approve changing the name of the PPSH to the Socialist Party of Albania. THE 10th CONGRESS OF THE PPSH Tirana, 12. 6. 1991

The new political agreement to form a coalition government for the country’s stability is a wise solution by the political parties in this Assembly to overcome the extremely critical situation the country is going through. It is the only alternative for stabilizing the country’s economic, political and social situation and for normalizing the further development of democratic processes. This solution was also achieved thanks to the full commitment of the Independent Trade Union Federation, the Student Movement and the Confederation Trade Unions to end the general strike affecting a large part of the country. Only in this way can the new government be given the opportunity to stabilize the situation and work on the program entrusted to it. For this reason, it is necessary for us all to contribute to achieving the objectives of this government, which has been formed on the basis of representation by all parliamentary political forces, all of which have given this government their full support. Honorable deputies! The deep and complex crisis our country is experiencing is clear to all of you. Following the general strike, it has assumed catastrophic proportions and brought the country to the brink of complete collapse. Key sectors of the economy have been paralyzed, including transport, agriculture, important branches of road transport, ports, light industry and the construction-equipment industry, many mines, agricultural work, exports, and so on. Taking into account the projected budget deficit of 3.2 billion lek, as well as a deficit of around 400 million dollars in the balance of payments, the situation has worsened further during this month. Direct losses from the general strike during the second half of May are estimated at more than 200 million lek. The situation in the agricultural sector is even more serious. The villagers are undergoing a profound economic and social shock. This has created an alarming situation that is paralyzing the future. In this context, the problem has practically brought things to a standstill, seriously disrupting the population’s supplies, and if we do not stop this process, the consequences will be incalculable. As a result of the halting of the unloading and distribution of goods imported, as well as goods contracted from various domestic firms, because of the general strike, food reserves of basic goods are measured in days. Meanwhile, blocked in the ports and at the border are 1,100 tons of sugar, 1,600 tons of cooking oil, over 4,000 tons of rice, 1,300 tons of flour, 1,100 tons of soap, 500 tons of potatoes and 250 tons of margarine. Due to a lack of assurances, foreign companies are delaying the supply of additional quantities of sugar, oil, meat, powdered milk, butter, etc. Because of the lack of transport and fuel, production has stopped at many factories: pasta, sugar products, beer, soft drinks, cigarettes, and so on. The same serious situation also affects the supply of the market with industrial goods, particularly clothing, kitchen utensils, building materials, etc. Under these conditions, unrestrained speculation and the black market have taken hold. Social tensions have increased, people’s peace and security have been shaken, and public order has been undermined. Recently, violent acts against public property have been carried out in several districts, including Lezhë, Krujë, Shkodër, Elbasan, etc., accompanied by arson and destruction, and even the use of firearms against workers and law-enforcement forces. Acts of violence against citizens have intensified, ranging from pressure and threats to crimes against life, not to mention the persistent acts of hooliganism by gangs, which have become widespread. In addition, individuals and groups of people continue to cross our state border illegally. Under these conditions, the main objectives of this government’s Work Program are: securing the most essential widely consumed goods to supply the population; stabilizing the situation in the countryside and developing industry and other branches of the economy, which are suffering from a lack of raw materials; halting the worsening of the domestic budget deficit and the external balance-of-payments deficit; restoring public order and calm so- (Continued on page 3)