Pompous appearance by “generals” Dear reader! I am writing in a newspaper for the first time. I am neither a journalist, nor an intellectual, nor a student, but a simple worker, so please forgive the quality of my writing. I, a eurosocialist worker, thought I would reply to the article’s author in the newspaper «Alternativa SD», Mr. Bego Katani. Poor Beqo is fretting over us eurosocialists: “Why has the PS put us in the front line!” I would ask the gentleman: And where has the troika put you and your forum—in the second line?! Of course, good man, in December 1990 you were in the front line, while now, in March 1992, you have ended up in the second or third line... Because neither Saliu, nor Skënderi, nor Sabriu beat you. I think the problem is that all three have names beginning with S, whereas yours, Beqo, begins with B. In your article you say, “Whether they have deceived you or not, all of you,” while I reply: No! We knocked on the PS’s door because there we saw security for the future. You say they have lied to you with the few things they have given you and promised you, while I reply that at the PS’s door ... our deceivers,” have given you and promised you, while I reply again, good man, that they have neither given us nor promised us anything except one thing, which is very precious to us eurosocialists: freedom and peace. I do not know whether they have given you anything or not, but I know they have promised you a lot; still, I tell you that you will get nothing. I believe you know this well, since you are a student and experienced the opposition’s rule in Tirana. We eurosocialists sit and talk, and even kiss the socialists when necessary, because they have nothing in common with the mistakes of the PPSH. I am very sorry, good man, that in December 1990 you were crushed and beaten, but the culprit is there, among you, not among us. I am very sorry, good man, that the opposition in Tirana did not secure for you even one of the most basic things you needed as students. So, my good fellow, do not waver any longer, because there is no time; therefore, abandon this second or third line you have got yourself into and come out into the front line! We will not come, nor will we ever join those who, on April 2, 1991, killed our common comrade Arben Broci in Shkodër. Absolutely not! According to him, the article’s author is very sorry about the insults directed at the opposition leaders, Messrs. Berisha and Hajdari, because, he says, a eurosocialist insulted them! Let me answer: Eurosocialists do not curse or insult, because neither cursing nor insulting is in their nature. Criticism, yes—we spare neither the opposition nor the leaders of the PS. We do not want to be mere applauders or to make a mush of words; we want to debate. You say that these students, who are eurosocialists today, did not take part in the December 1990 movement. I am sorry, but I am a worker, and I know that one of the students who was also an initiator of the movement that submitted a letter to the monist government is Ilir Metaj, now one of the active leaders of the Eurosocialist Forum. But I am very sorry, Mr. Beqo, that you do not like this forum. Just know that this forum has brought together students, workers and peasants, and all those democratic presences, to move things forward. Therefore, let us not give up our ideal, which is left-wing and our own. God save us from student worshippers of the Beqo Ktanis type.

FRESSH was founded by young people freed from prejudice, who saw in the alternative of democratic socialism a guarantee for the future. Many of our peers, as well as others, ask us the most paradoxical questions when they hear of the emergence of a new youth structure, organized in a new body that will be within the organizational structures of the PS. Those who know us were taken aback; others prejudged us, but most welcomed us. The fog that has now covered Albania’s political scene could hardly fail to prevent people from seeing us realistically and appreciating our sincerity, although we clearly defined our position, which places us alongside the most reformist forces in the PS and Albanian society as a whole. Even opposition leaders do not hesitate to acknowledge this. — All the work of the Eurosocialist Forum aims to make peasants, workers and young people—all voters—aware of the social stratum to which they belong, and of the party that represents and defends that stratum, so that they may then cast their vote where they believe their interests lie. — The Socialist Party expresses and defends the interests of the underprivileged strata, the dignity and honor of workers and peasants, young people and intellectuals; as such, today and in the future it will have their support and backing. The opposition tries to call this demagoguery and, since it cannot find anything in the PS’s current practical activity to distinguish the PS from its own social stratum, it turns to the past. All opposition propaganda today bases its success on spreading an ever thicker propaganda fog, aiming to portray the PS as the successor to the PP and therefore as responsible for the mistakes of the past. privileged it will have their support and backing. But in certain areas and organizations where the PS has not freed itself from conservative elements, we believe the Party can undergo a thorough reorganization, with the Youth Forum taking the initiative for its reorganization. What matters for the PS is that it inherited and still has within it a base of honest people. But neither political opportunists nor people unworthy of representing true socialists will be allowed to hide behind the PS’s name and their honesty. Consolidating an organized and powerful youth forum opens up suitable ground for completing the contours of the new Socialist Party. The rapid crystallization of FRESSH’s structure once again shows that young people, as an underprivileged stratum, find future, and are responsible toward the country as a fundamental force for the comprehensive reform of Albanian society. The full consolidation of the organizational structure, the growing clarity among ever larger sections of young people about our positions and views, bringing young people together on the basis of shared interests, and creating future opportunities for members and supporters to contribute to meeting the specific interests of their age group will increase both the number of members and the wider circle of supporters. Demagoguery—and because, in the PS’s current practical activity, there is nothing to seize upon in order to distinguish the PS from its own social base, they turn to the past. Today, all opposition propaganda bases its success on spreading as dense a propaganda fog as possible, seeking and, as such, responsible for the faults and mistakes of the PP clan that was in power. But, regardless of the subjective wishes of those—whoever they may be—it is becoming clear to everyone that the PS represents an entirely new political organization and that the date of its founding is June 13, 1991. The process of consolidating the genuine Socialist Party will continue in the future, and the First PS Conference, held in November 1991, can be considered only the beginning. For it to be as convincing as possible as a new party, it is important that new people, with no political profile, take the initiative in committing themselves to the PS. The First Congress of FRESSH, which will bring this phase to a close, will complete the consolidation of its organizational structure, position the Forum for its future activity, and raise the commitment of its members and the quality of their work to a higher level. It is only a coincidence that the organization of FRESSH’s structure coincides with the election campaign.

The dawn of democracy in Korçë was once again marred by the bloodthirsty shouts of militants gathered at the «Skënderbeu» stadium. Their call, “We will live—we will win the elections without shaving”? “We will either die or live,” they shouted, grabbing rifles, echoing the song lyrics “O boys, grab your rifles—either death or freedom,” as if raising the alarm. Wonderful! Nothing better could have been expected from Mr. Sali Berisha for the opening of the election campaign. So who says Korçë is peaceful? Just look at this “democratic bloodletting”! Hasn’t this people had enough of bloodshed? Is a new monism raising its head? Is a new dictatorship being prepared? These words at the «Skënderbeu» stadium are a repeated refrain. Let us also recall the open statement by Mr. Petra Minga, “chairman of the PD branch in Korçë,” published in the newspaper «Korça demokratike», that there will be civil war, which is not an opposition force. So that we do not put Shënatzi, Korçë, into ... the slogans and electoral field. That is why slogans calling for restraint and calm, and for peaceful and free elections, recently selected by “Berisha, whom they want like a spark thrown into the fire,” are so numerous. As for these calls—the candidates for PD deputies ... on the ninth ... make a “pompous” effort by generals.

These days, a meeting was held at the House of Culture in the town of Maliq between residents and representatives of the Socialist Party of Albania: members of the party’s Steering Committee, comrades Maqo Lakrori and Koço Brisku, and Alfred Kola, a member of the Eurosocialist Youth Forum of Albania. Residents of Maliq attended, as did people from surrounding villages such as Liboniku, Vloçishti, Kolenac, etc. Attendance was also satisfactory; the large performance hall was full. The meeting was opened by comrade Kostaq Duka, chairman of the PS Steering Committee for the Korçë youth district. Then Dr. Maqo Lakrori spoke. Through a sincere, open and warm dialogue with the people, he explained and clarified many of the questions raised by participants. Among the many questions asked was this one: Why did the PS not retain power and form the government after March 31, 1991? Dr. M. Lakrori explained that at that time it had not yet fully freed itself from the burden of the mistakes and shortcomings of monist rule and the shadow of the Political Bureau of the Party of Labour, or from the incapable and mediocre people who had previously led it. The abandonment of the market economy also had a negative impact on the country’s economy; the accelerated destruction of the Agricultural Cooperatives brought serious consequences for agriculture. While the PS supported gradual reform, rather than launching a spectacular reform, the opposition organized numerous strikes that did nothing but burden and weaken the economy and the people’s well-being; it encouraged the damaging, destruction and burning of social and cultural facilities. Asked whether the Socialist Party would be able to retain power and govern the country if it won the March 22 elections, Dr. M. Lakrori replied: “The Socialist Party has among its ranks capable intellectuals and specialists in every field, has experience in government, and is now much stronger, clearer and more consolidated both at the centre and at the grassroots. The people, too, after a year in opposition, are clearer, more discerning about the true substance of things, and will know whom to vote for.” Asked whether former owners would be compensated and whether people would have to pay taxes to give them their purchases back, as other parties demand, Dr. M. Lakrori replied that we are not in favour of this; our party is a party of the majority and defends the interests of working people, workers, peasants and intellectuals. The meeting also discussed the coalition between the PD, PR and PSD parties. Dr. M. Lakrori replied that we have been and remain in favour of forming a government and governing the country in coalition and in cooperation with anyone capable of bringing change to this country. The fog that has covered the Albanian political scene today could hardly have prevented people from seeing us as realistic and appreciating our sincerity, even though we clearly defined our position, which placed us alongside the whole. Opposition leaders, too, have not failed to acknowledge this. We came to the PS convinced that its intellectual forces, supported by honest people, were aware of the dialectic of the development of democratic processes in Albania, and that the PS’s position in this process was a responsible one—realistic in its concern for the country’s fate and for protecting the interests of the groups it represents and defends. What matters is that the Forum entered the PS as an organized bloc. This is precisely the source of our strength and determination to fulfil the commitments we have made so far and those we will undertake in the future. While the PS stood for gradual reform and avoiding high-profile reforms, and undermine the Socialist Party could hold on to power and govern the country if it won the elections on March 22, Dr. M. Lakrori replied: «The Socialist Party has capable intellectuals and specialists in all fields within its ranks; it has experience in government, and it a year in opposition, are clearer and better able to distinguish the truth at the heart of the matter, owners would be compensated and whether we would have to pay taxes to give them back their purchases, party of the majority and defends the interests of the working masses, replied that, as regards forming a government and governing the country, we have always supported—and continue to support—coalition and cooperation with anyone capable of bringing about change in this country.

“Were there jars of jam in the cowsheds?” At last, our television, while showing people continuing to steal carts loaded with bricks as buildings kept being demolished, also broadcast an interview with the Lushnjë police chief, Mr. Banushi, effectively siding with those who stole, destroyed and burned. This was unheard of. Apparently, the police’s duties under pluralism have changed: they have now taken it upon themselves not to uphold the law but to legitimize its violation. This will surely win them the sympathy of the “vandals” and those behind them, and they will surely leave the police alone from now on. Haven’t we begun to hear far too many statements of this kind... The impression was created that the warehouses in Lushnjë were burned because jars of jam had been hidden inside, and the people had none. Even when other enterprises were looted, with no connection whatsoever to the production of jam or sugar, according to the statements they were still looking for jars. And with the same momentum, after giving their “opinions,” they very tolerantly rushed at the cowsheds of agricultural enterprises too. Because it is not right for cows to have stalls while the “vandals” have no cows at home. We do not know whether they found jars of jam in the cowsheds or not. Mr. Banushi will tell us in another interview, with complete transparency. Why shouldn’t they charge from one enterprise to another with sticks in their hands, from one theft to the next, from one arson to another, when the police chief himself tells them: “You’re right, boys”? And why shouldn’t their “comrades in arms” come from Kavaja or Pogradec in cars to help them, when they have the chief as their “target”? They received his blessing, though perhaps they do not need only that. They also took heart. Perhaps they received more than that. They also gained courage... And perhaps more than that. For, without knowing that the police chief—their rescuer—would “protect” them in the “Opinions” segment, one of those present said that “the policemen steal for themselves.” He was surely reprimanded for revealing the secret of their cooperation. Perhaps that is not true, but perhaps that citizen knows something more. The chief should be concerned about this statement too. Does the police chief really not know that the thefts of recent days have nothing to do with jars of jam? Was he also unaware of the interesting interview Mr. Azem Hajdari gave about the future police force, or at least was its experience not passed on to him? Could it be that he does not know this will be good...

Kosovo has closed the graves of revenge. But what should we do? Whoever obstructs the action for reconciliation and nationwide cooperation is preparing revenge. Whoever does not honestly accept the people’s political will, expressed through the free vote, is planting mines in the democracy we are building.

THE VICTORY OF THE PSSH WILL OPEN THE WAY TO A SOCIAL MARKET ECONOMY, THE REVITALIZATION OF PRODUCTION AND PRIVATE INITIATIVE, FRUITFUL COOPERATION WITH FOREIGN PARTNERS, AND THE VICTORY OF WORK OVER STAGNATION. ITS PROGRAM OF DEMOCRATIC, CONTEMPORARY SOCIALISM OPENS UP PROSPECTS FOR ACHIEVING EUROPEAN STANDARDS.