For you, comrades of the railways — 400 train wagons are stranded at Bajza station — These days, Nuredin Pelinku, director of the Bajza railway district, gave a very concerned interview on Radio Shkodra. We later met him ourselves to learn more about what was troubling him. What was it? Around 400 train wagons, destined for and dispatched to our country, continue to wait at Yugoslav stations or at our station, awaiting distribution to the places where they are expected. Because of the paralysis caused by the railway workers’ strike, we have to pay the Yugoslav side no small amount in compensation every day. Most of the wagons carry food products such as cooking oil, sugar, rice, etc., which our market not only needs, but is, we might say, hungry for. They are an important part of the 1,100 tons of sugar, 1,500 tons of cooking oil, over (Continued on page 2)

The Socialist Party Auditorium What will the Party’s new role be under the new conditions? What will the Socialist Party be like? What will each of our positions be in today’s developments? These and other questions were at the center of the discussion held by comrade Fatos Nano, chairman of the Steering Committee of the Socialist Party, and comrade Shkëlqim Cani, a member of its Presidium, with members and supporters of the party from the capital’s central government departments. The meeting was held in the conference hall of the Tirana Socialist Party Committee. Attendance was high, and many people had to stand—a fact that obliges the organizers to arrange such meetings better next time. The participants gave comrade Fatos Nano a warm welcome and congratulated him on his new position. In his remarks, comrade Fatos said that there was no room for either enthusiasm or euphoria. We have come here to meet together, to talk and change our way of thinking, and to find solutions to many problems that have accumulated over the years. Our Party is on the path to its complete transformation. This is a historical necessity arising from the complete transformation of Albanian society. This society has now determined its path and its own development alternative: the market economy. The transition to this new economic model also brings with it the emergence of new, unfamiliar problems. First of all, we must change our own mindsets. This means convincing ourselves that the period of a single party in power is coming to an end once and for all. New mindsets stem from the fact that we can no longer clothe ourselves in power. The Party Congress itself clearly reflected this transformation. Are we capable of transforming ourselves and our Party? The opposition criticizes us, saying that our changes are merely cosmetic. There have been many cases in which reforms have indeed been cosmetic, where what was said was not done, resulting in a loss of trust in many instances. We, comrade Fatos continued, must regain the trust we have lost by making real and tangible changes. We, he said, face greater difficulty among employees of government departments than others do, because the psychology of the socialist order we left behind has taken deep root among us—in other words, the psychology of the salaried employee. At the meeting it was emphasized that, for the time being, party members are (Continued on page 2) At the meetings of the Socialist Party Committee of Tirana, a discussion was also held with lecturers, members and supporters of the PSSH at the Agricultural University. This meeting was mostly like a roundtable, where many issues and uncertainties that had emerged after the 10th Congress were raised for discussion and clarified. It is natural that the qualitative step taken by this congress, which culminated in a historic decision such as the creation of the Socialist Party, would cause not only uncertainty and misunderstandings but also upheaval among some ordinary party members. Although they have since expressed solidarity with the new program and statute adopted at the congress, they have not yet managed to assimilate and Lleshi, deputy chairman of the presidium of the Socialist Party Steering Committee, provided explanations regarding these dilemmas. He stressed that the congress finalized a fundamental change, which is by no means merely formal, but concerns the very substance of the Socialist Party’s transformation from the Party of Labour. It is important that these days the members of the Socialist Party clearly understand that this change is indeed a natural consequence of the changes its historic mission. It gave what it had to give. This brought a new party onto the scene, the Socialist Party, which, while firmly distancing itself from everything bad in the past, publicly declares that it will do its utmost to put its program into practice, doing everything possible so that this program may now be expressed more fully through the party’s adoption of it, and so that all the truths of the fundamental changes made at its congress are understood and assimilated.[?] (To be continued on page 2)

Yesterday, a discussion was also held at the premises of the Tirana Socialist Party Committee with lecturers, members, and supporters of the PSSH from the Agricultural University. The meeting was mostly like a round-table discussion, where many issues and uncertainties were raised for discussion and clarification—issues that had emerged among ordinary party members who, although they had endorsed the new program and statute approved at the Congress, had not managed to assimilate or make their own the transformation of our Party. Comrade Ismail Lleshi, deputy chairman of the committee’s presidium, offered explanations concerning these dilemmas. These days, members of the Socialist Party should remain calm and understand that the change that took place came about naturally, as a consequence of the developments we are experiencing. The Party of Labour of Albania fulfilled its historical mission. It gave all it had to give. Socialist Party, which, by distancing itself, created not only uncertainty and misunderstandings but also turmoil among some ordinary party members. This was evident not only from the large number of questions asked and the explanations given in response, but also from the outbursts of some participants, which appeared at the end of this event.

At the invitation of the Government of National Stability, the Vice-Chancellor and Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, Hans Ditrih Gensher, arrived in our country on an official visit. He also came in his capacity as chairman of the Council of Ministers of the CSCE. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Muhamet Kapllani, the Minister of Construction, Emin Mysliu, and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were at Rinas airport to welcome him. Kristian Nakonc, chargé d’affaires a.i. of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in the Republic of Albania, was also present. (ATA) The CSCE meeting is to be held on June 19–20 in Berlin. President Ramiz Alia welcomed Dr. Hans Ditrich Gensher to Albania and expressed his pleasure at meeting him again. “I am very pleased to meet you at an important time for your country,” said, among other things, the Germany, “at a time when the rights of the Albanian people are linked to democracy and the reform undertaken here.” The Albanian President described both meetings with Hans Ditrich Gensher as very important, held at two different times and significant in their own way. The first time, among other things, we met just after diplomatic relations between the two countries had been established. Now we meet at a time when, as in Europe and the world, many changes have taken place in Albania, and the process of democratization has begun and is moving forward successfully... [...] and will be deepened further still. Dr. Hans Ditrich Gensher welcomed the fact that, as in the rest of the world, transformations have also taken place in Albania along the path of democratization and openness, and described our country’s determination to advance this process as very important—a process which, as he stressed, also requires the implementation of the necessary economic reforms. Given the democratic changes that have taken place here, it is natural that you wish to participate in the CSCE not only as observers, but as full members. Hans Ditrich Gensher praised Albania’s first political choice—the formation of the Government of National Stability with the participation of political forces—as an act that earns confidence both inside and outside Albania. President Ramiz Alia emphasized that Albania is opening up, but that other states should also open up to it. He expressed his conviction that the visit of the German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs would also help in this regard. The President said that Albania wishes to further develop its relations with international organizations and bodies in various fields. Dr. Hans Ditrich Gensher underlined that no state can develop... Albanian Foreign Minister Muhamet Kapllani in Germany. An important step, he pointed out, will be the establishment of relations between Albania and the European Community. We are interested in and wish your country success. We have particular sympathy for your people. “I would be delighted,” he stressed, “as chairman of the Berlin meeting, to welcome the Albanian delegation among the delegations of the other states participating in the CSCE.” For his part, President Ramiz Alia, thanking his distinguished German guest, said that it was a great pleasure for us that this act is being realized precisely at this time, in Berlin. Foreign Minister Muhamet Kapllani attended the reception. Also present was Federal Republic of Germany in the Republic of Albania. (ATA)

(Photo: A.-Dhimtri - ATSH) (Partially visible below the picture are the words: “... A. Dhimitri - ATSH”)

Yesterday morning, Socialist Party Presidium member and director Agolli held a press conference at the club of the League of Writers and Artists of Albania. Many writers and artists, employees of publishing houses, central press organizations, etc., took part. We do not at all wish to exaggerate the significance of the concern from the outset by suggesting that this press conference was a historic event. This is due not only to in response, but also to of this event. Comrade director Agolli spoke about the concept of the Socialist Party and the paths and possibilities for its complete renewal, and argued that the solution adopted by the Congress itself, through the free will of the majority of delegates, was right and more acceptable. “I,” he said, “have confidence in this renewal because I trust the most progressive forces within this Party. Let us consider the new Program that was approved, the adoption of the name, and the distancing from everything that was wrong in the past: do these not all point to a good and promising beginning?” The speaker also answered the many questions posed by those present. There really were many, and it is impossible to include them all here. Regarding the stance toward the past of the PPSH and the figure of Enver Hoxha, he maintained the position he had expressed in his address to the Congress. As for the other opposition parties, he said that “the Socialist Party will establish fair and sincere relations with them.” In response to a question about the PSSH’s relations with sister parties in Europe, he stressed that they would seek and make efforts to establish ties, provided those parties were also willing to do so. “Here I do not mean Slobodan Millosheviç’s party, with which we have nothing in common; on the contrary, we are hostile to it, since it maintains an openly backward and anti-Albanian stance.” One of the more unusual questions put to director Agolli concerned the position he would take toward his earlier work. “I,” he said, “joined the Party in 1952, when I did not know I would become a writer. In many respects, like the other members of the Party to which I belong, I was disappointed, but that did not make me surrender my membership card. I had no doubts, courage, because that is what a person lives for. Besides, I need a platform from which to express my views,” he added, “and that is why I have maintained the position that is now known.” Correspondent of Zëri i Popullit

At the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Muhamet Kapllani, U.S. Secretary of State James Baker will come to Albania for a visit, immediately after the ministerial meeting of the CSCE held in Berlin from June 19 to 20, 1991. At the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Muhamet Kapllani, U.S. Secretary of State James Baker will come to Albania for a visit immediately after the CSCE ministerial meeting being held in Berlin from June 19 to 20, 1991. (ATA)

The delegation of the US National Democratic Institute, represented by Mr. Thomas O. Melia, was received yesterday in separate meetings at the SP Headquarters by comrades Spiro Dede, deputy chairman, and Director Agolli, member of the Steering Committee, as well as by comrade Ismail Lleshi, deputy chairman of the Steering Committee. At these meetings, the guests were briefed on the Party’s essential renewal processes, the results of which included the creation of the Socialist Party of Albania. The meeting discussed the objectives set out by the 10th Congress to transform and establish the PPSH as a vital force in Albanian democracy—as a party of progress, national unity and social justice, a party that will devote everything to the country’s comprehensive economic and cultural development and its dignified integration into Europe and the world. Views were exchanged on the need to learn about its activities and to provide assistance through programs serving the advancement of democratic processes in our country, particularly assistance through experts, literature, etc., to help the pluralist parliament function and conduct its work better. Correspondent of «Zëri i popullit»

(Photo: A.-Dhimtri - ATSH)

His Excellency the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania His Excellency The Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania Mr. Ylli Bufi TIRANA Dear Mr. Prime Minister, On the occasion of your election to the post of Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania, I send you my very best wishes. I wish you and your Government, which is supported by Albania’s most important political forces, great success in fulfilling the high duty of winning the confidence of the people of your country. The Federal Government led by me will do everything within its means to help your Government finally overcome the economic difficulties. Friendly greetings. HELMUT KOL Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany