- Gentlemen of the PD! Did you perhaps fall from the sky and are you going to perform miracles? - Do not be saddened, Mr. Oppositionist; keep your composure, read on and you will be convinced of this certain truth. Let us take things calmly and go back almost a full year. It was the district of Fier that “guarded” monism fanatically. What a shame. How could this large city, with its dense and civilized population, fail to understand so-called democracy?! And this enigma has still not been solved by the “democratic” gentlemen. It was the honest people of Fier, the “cowards,” who experienced the blows of the “Democrats” at the railway stations in Kavajë and Tirana—and that was the first democratic gift. But it did not end there. The Democrats’ process unfolded at an unprecedented speed, unlike that in any other formerly monist country in Europe. The record was broken. Albania came first in destruction. This was the second gift, which the Democrats—now scattered—devised not for Fier but for Shkodër, Durrës, Kavajë and Tirana. These things do not belong to the people but to the “Democrats,” because where honest, ordinary and intelligent people triumphed over thieves and hooligans wearing the mask of democrats, there were no excesses, breakages or destruction. The people welcomed the leaders of the PD with respect and hope, and they repaid that trust with lies and slander, with breakages and destruction. The people no longer swallow these plums; the cup is full, and this is as true as the indignation of the people of Tropojë over the “hospitality” you showed Comrade Fatos Nano, gentlemen of the Democrats. What does the word democ-racy mean when you invoke it so often, while depriving people of their most elementary right—the freedom of speech and thought? Do you want only yourselves to speak?! Admit it: you are monists, you are new dictators. Was it not Comrade Fatos Nano who called for a gradual transition to a market economy, while clever Pashko imported “shock therapy” and Albania was reduced to a country without any kind of economy? Was it not Mr. Frrok Çupi who abandoned your ranks because he did not want to deceive the people with your figures? I know you are getting annoyed. You are hot-tempered, but be patient a little longer until I finish. At the rally “For Kosovo with Kosovo,” on a patriotic theme and organized by Tirana’s students, was it necessary for you, members of the PD, to take part and turn the rally into an election campaign? At the so-called student scientific symposium on democracy, is it not a fact that attendance was minimal and, after Mr. S. Berisha’s speech, seven Trojans spoke one after another, forcing most of the students to leave the symposium halfway through, insulted? Could it be that the PD is Troy’s monopoly? You know that better than we do. Why are the “democratic” gentlemen dissatisfied with Mr. Alia being regarded as an international figure? Is it not good for this nation to be represented to the world by an intelligent man? Why was the PD not accepted as a member of the Democratic International—or is the president, the PS or the people to blame for that too? Were you not the ones who reburied the criminals of Vlora with honor and respect? Why on earth did such an act have to be carried out? It is clear: only to provoke the people into bloodshed—how much blood, just to satisfy your whims. And what about the poor [unclear] who are now [unclear] in the reeds of [unclear]? You are the ones driving him out of his mind with empty promises. Enough lies; be more sincere, do not toy with the people’s feelings, have the courage to say: “People, this is all we can do.” But you cannot do that, because you were born deceivers and can never become men. What does the nation expect from you? Could it be that you fell from the sky and are going to perform miracles?! You were not imposed on us; you were born here, but your careers have blinded you, and you can see nothing except yourselves. The name of your party does not mean true democracy, but nor do your insults diminish the PS’s authority, because the people say: “The insulter gets insulted.” Still, keep insulting; the day will come when you tire and stop barking. I was a member of the PD, hoping it would fight for democracy, but I was disillusioned. This is as true as the conclusions I have drawn about it: - It is a party whose ranks include thieves, murderers, terrorists and liars. - It fights for monism and for dividing the nation. These are truths the people know well. Honest people, do not lose your heads. Do not say: “Let’s vote for the PD once and see what happens.” Voting for the PD is exactly like unleashing a rabid dog and waiting to see what it will do. Be careful, honest person! This is the moment when the fate of this nation is being decided. Do not make a mistake. Give your vote to the PS, to this calm and intelligent party, to your party, to the party of men. The dishonest are few and belong to the PD. A convinced and open-minded local. Victory is certain! D. KAVAJA, student [The following text appears to be a continuation or an adjacent article:] Certainly! Threats made through anonymous telephone calls have been followed daily by declarations in recent days, turning into physical violence and destruction. This pressure and anti-democratic action, anti-socialist rhetoric, and also the physical violence of the “Democrats,” hooligans, and certain anti-Albanian forces are finding ground for division among… (Continued on page 2)

- Official talks in Rome between the leaders of the PSI and the PSSH - The Chairman of the Socialist Party of Albania, Fatos Nano, who, at the invitation of the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gianni De Michelis, took part in the meeting chaired by him and Austrian State Minister Peter Jankoviç , “On the contribution of democratic and reformist forces to the transition process in Central Europe,” was received the day before yesterday afternoon at the headquarters of the Italian Socialist Party by its Secretary General, Betino Kraksi. The talks focused on exchanging views and necessary information about political developments in the two countries, on the need to draw up common strategies among democratic left-wing forces during this period of transition and reform in both Eastern and Western Europe, with the aim of increasing continuity in the process of European integration. The discussion also addressed the undertaking of realistic initiatives by the continent’s genuinely progressive forces to advance democratic processes in Eastern Europe and especially in the Balkans, particularly to stabilize the situation and avert nationalist conflicts such as those connected with the Yugoslav crisis. Fatos Nano informed Betino Kraksi in detail about the tense situation in which the election campaign has begun in Albania, as well as the reasons for the PSSH’s insistence that it be conducted as a genuinely democratic, concrete contest of programs and alternatives for overcoming the crisis and rapidly developing the transition reforms, without falling for provocations by right-wing forces seeking to divert people’s attention through street politics, inflexible populist positions and a focus solely on the past. Betino Kraksi assessed the positions of the Socialist Party of Albania in the country’s current circumstances as constructive and highly objective, noting that looking toward the future and committing to concrete solutions to the problems of transition and democratic reform is the true test that left-wing forces in all Eastern countries must pass, especially following the breakup of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union. The Socialist International is also interested in this aim and will further increase its political commitment to consolidating the role of socialist and social-democratic parties in the development of these processes and to implementing the integration program on a pan-European scale. He reiterated the well-known official position of the Socialist International that the new elections to be held in a number of Central and Eastern European countries (Albania, Romania, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia) will be the true test of their membership in this important forum, so that hasty and mistaken positions such as the one taken in the case of the Hungarian Social Democratic Party are not repeated. He emphasized that the Italian Socialist Party would further strengthen its relations and cooperation with the Socialist Party of Albania, intensify contacts between the parties and their respective youth forums, and expressed his hope that the elections of 22 March in Albania would be successfully concluded in keeping with the objectives mentioned above. Fatos Nano thanked Betino Kraksi for the fruitful exchange of views and for fulfilling their mutual commitments to further expand and develop relations between the two parties and, more broadly, within the Socialist International. On behalf of the PSSH, he conveyed his wishes for the Italian Socialist Party to achieve its objectives in Italy’s parliamentary elections on 5 April. Fatos Nano returned to his homeland yesterday.

The election campaign for the People’s Assembly elections in the district of Sarandë has begun amid pronounced political and social instability. The many events that marked the first week after the official announcement of the campaign foreshadow a violent offensive renewed by the opposition and the “power of the street,” as well as insecurity and a lack of normal conditions, contrary to what the law stipulates to ensure entirely free and democratic elections. Members and supporters of the Socialist Party are facing the psychological terror—which in recent days has turned into physical violence and destruction—with arguments and courage. Threats made through anonymous telephone calls are followed every day by street declarations that “anyone who votes for the PS will suffer,” and even by personal threats. Scenarios of violence once drawn up in [unclear] and involving a right-wing dictatorship began to be implemented in recent days through physical violence and street pressure against PS members and supporters in Sarandë and Delvinë. The incident in Delvinë on 20 February 1992 cannot be a coincidence. Members and supporters of the Socialist Party in that town, gathered to launch the election campaign, experienced not only anti-socialist hostility but also the physical violence of “Democrats”—hooligans. This pressure and anti-democratic action was accompanied by groups of people shouting through the town: “Çamëria!”, “Down with the Greeks!”, “Democracy, democracy.” Could this really be democracy? The actions of these uncontrolled forces seem to have been prompted by the events of recent days on the southern Albanian-Greek border, which began with the destruction in Sarandë of all the shops belonging to Greek merchants and the ransacking of the “OMONIA” offices. In the violence inflicted by Greek soldiers on Albanian refugees, which we condemn with indignation, certain anti-Albanian forces appear to be finding fertile ground for division among

“And you too, young eurosocialists, do not be taken in by the promises of the red vampires. Fight together with your comrades and with all the people for democracy. Never follow the devil of democracy—and that day is very near; you will not get to enjoy it. You will be like bats at night, stained by the crimes of the red dictatorship.” This hypocritical appeal and the open threat in the newspaper “KOSOVA”—that the persecuted should be condemned and [unclear] of the Second World War should be [unclear]—directed at ordinary people who fought for their homeland, neither frightens nor shakes a eurosocialist or all his comrades, members of parties with a left-wing political orientation. This is not a question of bravery—there is no need for us to dwell on how brave you are, or to hold out our hand to anyone. My concern is that people should know what you are fighting for, whose head you use to think, judge and act. Everything I have thought and believed about the members of [unclear], I never believed that a newspaper called KOSOVA could publish such articles against [unclear] by a part of Kosovo, against Kosovo’s great interests. I have only just begun to understand the reasons for saying this: 1. Not one of its pages reflects the Serbian nationalist terror in Kosovo. 2. Not one of its pages interviews a political prisoner or victim of political persecution from Kosovo. 3. Not one of its pages attempts to identify alternatives for resolving the Albanian question. 4. It attacks the present Government unscrupulously, along with our great Albanian Ismail Kadare and the writer Agolli. 5. In the absence of evidence and facts, it uses irony and the most [unclear] humor, which could come only from the most morbid imagination of a newspaper such as “KOSOVA.” It has expressed itself in the most scandalous and extraordinary ways seen to date. 6. What the extreme wing of the PD cannot say in RD, it says through this newspaper. This is especially evident in the merciless attacks on the reformist wing of the PD and the open defense of its conservative wing. 7. It sticks its nose into everything, even acting as an association to zealously serve the PD’s extremists and their interests. This was seen most clearly in the Organizing Council of the rally “For Kosovo and Kosovo.” 8. And finally, this newspaper threatens the pure eurosocialist youth, telling them they will not get to enjoy the fruits of democracy because, being left-wing, they will be stained by the crimes of the red dictatorship. Does that mean that hundreds will be imprisoned, persecuted, oppressed, left without work for life, forced to suffer persecution and experience Dante’s seven circles of Hell—is that what you call democracy?! Gentlemen of “KOSOVA,” come to your senses and do not fall into the traps of the plans of Serbian chauvinists! HAKI MORINA Candidate, in the “Eurosocialist Forum”

(Interview by our editor with BASHKIM ZENELI, Secretary for Foreign Relations on the Steering Committee of the PSSH). Question: It has been barely eight months since the PSSH was founded. From the outset, it declared that it would organize and act as a force of the European left and as a defender of the principles of democratic socialism. With which parties have relations been established, and what stage have those relations reached so far? Answer: Without claiming to provide detailed information, I would say that the Socialist Party of Albania defined its position from its very first steps as a party guided by the principles of democratic socialism, which shape its identity as a political force seeking to build a free, democratic society with social justice. Starting from this position, it would seek—as it did—its allies, partners and those political forces on the European scene that have similar aims. These are the socialist and social-democratic parties, which recognized the PSSH and established comprehensive relations of cooperation and mutual assistance with it. These include the Italian Socialist Party, PASOK in Greece, the Social Democratic Party of Austria, the Hungarian Socialist Party, the populist Social Democratic Party of Turkey, the Israeli Labor Party, the Malta Labour Party, the Social Democratic Party of Switzerland, and others. We have also had contacts with representatives of other social-democratic parties in Central and Northern Europe, which will soon be given concrete form and raised to a higher level. All this clearly shows that it is recognized and cooperates on the European political scene with well-known parties that play a primary role not only in their own countries’ politics but also in pan-European political organizations. And here one very important fact should be kept in mind: each party established these close relations of cooperation while the Albanian opposition was insulting it with whatever came to mind (as if the opposition leaders came from another planet); and, secondly, these ties of cooperation were established when Europe was still not prejudging us as former communists. Therefore, I would call the relations the PSSH has established with left-wing parties in Europe a genuine and important success. Question: How, then, should we regard the claim that the Socialist Party of Albania is isolated and has no support—a claim that the opposition parties assert a priori and forcefully? Answer: It is an absurd claim with no real basis, originating in particular political motives and now, even more, in electoral objectives. In addition to what we have emphasized above, I would tell those who promote this claim that no Albanian political party so far has managed to secure the credibility and reputation that the PSSH enjoys in Europe. PSSH leaders have met and been warmly received by internationally renowned figures in the socialist movement and European political life, such as Betino Kraksi, Andrea Papandreu, Gjuia Horn, Karl Shranek, Peter Jankoviç, Peter Shider, Simon Pë-res, and others. Consider another fact, now well known: Betino Kraksi is an honorary member of the PSSH. Opposition leaders may travel all over the place, bring out one of their supporters in front of microphones or cameras, and even flatter themselves, but no one has shown such an honor as, for example, the Swiss Social Democratic Party showed representatives of the PSSH by inviting them as members to the plenum of its Central Committee. Prominent figures in the Austrian SDP called our party, in the final analysis, an equal partner for dialogue and cooperation. You would have to be extremely naive and malicious to say or think that Europe is “blind,” that it does not judge us or help us, and to make a great noise at home and abroad claiming that the Socialist Party has a say in this. It all depends on whom you approach in Europe, since the European political spectrum is quite varied. Our allies in Europe are the socialist and social-democratic parties, and they have no prejudice against supporting the PSSH in its work and its aim of building a free, democratic and humane society. In this connection, I would emphasize that the socialist groups are the largest and have a particular influence on decisions made by European political, economic and financial forums. Question: Political and ideological pluralism has, of course, existed for only one year. Albanian political parties have declared that they follow different principles and are seeking their counterparts in Europe. Specifically, how familiar are European socialist parties with the PSSH’s positions, and how do they assess them? Answer: At meetings held either in Tirana or abroad, PSSH representatives have openly presented the PSSH’s line, concepts and positions, both on domestic issues and on international ones. It is very positive that the analyses we have presented have been assessed as realistic and objective, and that our political positions on both the situation in the country and foreign-policy issues in general have been welcomed. I am not exaggerating when I say that with the partners with whom we have sat at the table, there has been complete agreement. And these are partners who do not readily accept just anyone; they have to be convinced. Keep another fact in mind: what we…

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Guri Thanasi, Engineer, Kuçovë If this quantity of gold was stolen, as the foreign “friend” declared on television, then I think this 1990 scandal should be uncovered and reported by the special parliamentary group established specifically to investigate the treasury, headed by Mr. B. Çeketa. Otherwise, it seems to me to be an election bluff. Thank goodness the President took a firm position on this occasion. We want only the truth. Niko Zherdi, economist, Tirana: The issue of the gold has become very tangible for people. This was also felt when the news was announced on television. I—and, I believe, no one else—would forgive anyone who may have abused their position. As for the announcement, I think it would have been good, indeed essential, for such information to be given first to the competent bodies so they could verify its reliability. The way it was delivered was nothing but bewilderment, sensationalism and confusion. Ylli Limaj, economist, Tirana: From the way this interview was put together, its content, and the people who allowed it to be broadcast on television, the conclusion is that we are dealing with an ugly display of speculative “democracy.” A certain John Megou, a “friend” of indeterminate gender, and “depoliticized” television place themselves above the judgment of the People’s Assembly, the Government and the banking authorities. Hasan Barameta, engineer, Durrës: His statement does not interest me at all. It seems everyone wants to play games with it. I want the shops to be full and the queues not to eat up our days; ultimately, I want to get something done. Nevertheless, from the television interview I still do not understand why public opinion has to be thrown into confusion. Something strikes me: how is it possible that the European countries that are keeping us fed do not know that we have all that gold? Llambi Naska, Durrës seaport: It was like some kind of wonder or mystery, and he himself was one too. We did not find out who he was. I think there were election motives behind the interview, but I could not understand whether such sensations were to Albania’s detriment or advantage. Fatmir Lleshi, worker at the Mining Construction Enterprise, Tirana: I have only just read the newspaper. Let us see what the Prosecutor General will uncover. I do not know better than the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance, the Director General of the Albanian State Bank or the Director of the Treasury. It has not even been established who gave the order to broadcast it on television! I do not believe it.

planiji- Sarajevo jillë re- meve të javë më Sërbë shëm që jen e a- uge z.