- Comrade Fatos Nano meets veterans of the National Liberation War and members of martyrs’ families Yesterday, in the hall of the Steering Committee of the Socialist Party, Comrade Fatos Nano held a meeting with veterans of the National Liberation War, on the eve of the March 22 elections. It was organized by the Socialist Party Committee of Tirana in cooperation with the National Committee of Veterans and the Tirana Veterans Committee. In his speech, Comrade Fatos Nano expressed his particular pleasure at this cordial meeting and conveyed the Socialist Party’s great respect for the veterans’ struggle and stance during the Anti-Fascist National Liberation War, and for their work in rebuilding and developing Albania. The meeting took place in a spirit of warm cooperation, with the successful conduct of the election campaign and its culmination in victory for the Socialist alternative at its center.

It is a special honor for me to meet with you today, on the eve of the March 22 elections. I say sincerely that this special meeting with you is overdue, personally speaking. Nevertheless, the fact is that we have never ceased to be in touch, and nothing has clouded our ties. Today, too, we will talk and address our concerns together, which, as you know, are many. For the Socialist Party, you—war and labor invalids and heroes, honored veterans—are the honor and pride of the people and our entire nation. This is connected with the invaluable fact that your contribution to laying the true foundations of freedom was worthy and made under extremely difficult conditions. No one forced you to join the ranks of the National Liberation Army; driven by noble national ideals, you yourselves felt this great patriotic, historical, and national duty, and, as you were—barefoot, unclothed, and hungry—you wrote, with courage and wisdom, shining pages in the history of the new Albania. Once again, no one forced you to go to the work sites to rebuild the country; rather, you yourselves streamed forth like an unstoppable river to build bridges and factories, to … Why, to rebuild the country; bridges and factories, drain marshes and swamps, raise dams, build mines and open galleries, drill wells, open schools, etc. In these unparalleled works of heroism and sacrifice, you left your youth; you showed your indomitable spirit and devoted your sweat, toil, dignity, and hearts. This has made you honored and respected for all time. You yourselves, with the simplicity and grandeur of the people, are written into the history of the new Albania, and no force can remove you from it, because you are the first generation of the free homeland. On the basis of your exceptional contribution, the Socialist Party has clearly and unequivocally affirmed its political commitment in its current electoral program: it «assesses objectively, realistically and with due consideration the country’s and our people’s near and distant future»; it defends and values the National Liberation War, the toil, sweat, and sacrifices of the honest people of our nation in building the country, and the progressive social and economic transformations and reforms since liberation. Today there are many pseudo-historians and short-sighted politicians who have seized their pens and microphones and are smearing our people’s history as much as they can, especially the National Liberation War and the entire period that followed it, fomenting civil revanchism and national division. The Socialist Party opposes replacing one kind of subjectivism with another. It stands for scientific objectivity in evaluating facts. It believes history must be written as it was, and not politicized to the detriment of national reconciliation and unity. Such types who emerge in circumstances like these cannot deny your rightful place in history, alongside others. You have no need to be reminded of what is not mentioned here. You are living history, bearing witness like a torch that will never be extinguished. Faced with the anger of the people caused by their conduct, and backed into a corner, opposition historians and politicians, and lately the leaders of the Democratic Party, etc., have begun to «defend» the National Liberation War and the statements of their short-sighted politician-leader. These small-time politicians’ electoral bluff is exposed when, while claiming at rallies that they defend the National Liberation War to win votes, their followers organize the destruction of memorials and other commemorative symbols that testify, from generation to generation, to the deeds of the dead, or organize reburial ceremonies for people killed as collaborators with fascism and Nazism or for having killed ordinary people and partisans. Our people, who have fought and suffered greatly, know how to distinguish the partisans and true fighters for freedom from cowards and political scoundrels; they know how to distinguish those who were victims of mistakes and crimes from those who took up arms against the occupiers and stained their hands with the blood of innocent people. Brothers and sisters. The situation is difficult and tense. The situation on the eve of the elections is extremely strained. The true sources of destabilization and of prolonging the crisis are certain opposition forces which, in order to seize power by any means and at any cost and for nefarious purposes, are organizing vandalism and destruction, threatening ordinary people, especially Socialist Party members and supporters, organizing exoduses, acting treacherously within the Socialist Party, and fomenting general insecurity, while brazenly confronting the little people and stirring up insecurity everywhere. Opposition leaders, on manipulated television screens and in their own press, slander our party in vulgar fashion, accusing it of all the things for which they themselves are responsible. This does not at all show that they are deluded about their strength, but rather that they are weak. Our party’s authority and standing are also growing. This has only one explanation: we tell the truth, we have our feet on the ground, we are a mass political organization, and we put national interests above narrow party interests. Victory in this struggle belongs to us, and we will win, because we have freed the people from rulers of the past and the future, objectively appreciating our people’s past and the interests of the overwhelming majority, rather than those of a tiny privileged group in their own country. You young women of Albania, and the people of Albania, stand for the interests, efforts, and sacrifices of ordinary people in building our society, who are not a handful but the majority of the people—

Opinion It is our «voice» - Shkëlqim Sulejmanasi, electrician at NB Kamëz — The newspaper «Zëri i popullit» is responding very well to the opposition press. The problem is that «Zëri» is not reaching readers in the quantities they want. On quite a few occasions it has become like a «tract», being passed from hand to hand. - Pashkë Kolaj, miner in Valias. You should immediately start publicizing the Socialist Party’s candidates for parliament. They should be compared with those of the opposition. In every respect. The electorate should know well whom it is dealing with, so that it votes not only for the party, but first and foremost for the person. - Krenar Karamani, worker at the «Ali Kelmendi» combine, Tirana. «Zëri i popullit» needs to take a tougher line against the opposition. There are plenty of arguments. I am a member of the SP, until yesterday a member of the PP. I have had no privileges; I have worked three shifts all my life. We must not let the opposition saddle us with the burden of the mistakes of the corrupt. These are the things «Zëri» should write about in these remaining days before March 22. [Upper column] ... the Albanian people do not deserve a dictatorship, a dictatorship, a dictatorship, which some pseudo-democrats are presenting to us as democracy. With your free and democratic vote, you have it in your hands to save Albania and secure your future. By voting for the Socialist Party, its electoral program and its candidates, you vote for the unprivileged majority; you vote for the worker, the farmer, the student, the intellectual; you vote for the military and law-enforcement personnel; you vote for Albania and not for those who were left at the airports. [Right column] ... realism, while at the same time preserving the finest traditions of the people’s struggle and work. (Continued on page 2)

In recent days, the vice-chairman of the Socialist Party, Doctor of Sciences Servet Pëllumbi, who has been proposed as the party’s candidate for parliament in Electoral Zone No. 42 of the Korçë district, held a cordial meeting with residents of Bulgarec in the Korçë district. Focusing in particular on the «On Land» law, the speaker stressed that this law expresses the interests of more than 90 percent of our peasantry and responds to today’s reality. It recognizes the agrarian reform carried out in our country and takes account of the changes that have occurred over the past 45 years. More specifically, if houses have been built on a farmer’s land, the Socialist Party believes that the people who have lived in them for 30–40 years should enjoy them now and in the future. Dividing the land according to the number of people living in the village is the best way to resolve the issue of land ownership and avoid conflicts. Today, many plots are being claimed by former wealthy owners, beys and agas, from inside and outside the country. Letters and pressure have come even from Canada to prevent this or that area of land from being distributed. The Socialist Party supports implementing the land law as soon as possible and ensuring that the farmer receives the title deed. These processes are being deliberately held back by certain political forces, which seek to maintain a difficult situation, particularly in the agricultural sector. In the DP’s electoral program, Doctor Ser-vet Pëllumbi went on to point out, it says: «We recognize as a legitimate right the possible return or compensation, to the extent provided for by law, of property belonging to former owners who were unjustly dispossessed» and that «the basic land law currently in force should be revised». The speaker discussed the Government’s decision implementing Article 5 of the land law. This article, which provides for assistance and other measures to help farmers with less land, was achieved through the efforts and demands of Socialist Party deputies. Unfortunately, this decision is not well known among farmers in the hilly and mountainous areas. - Through its program, life, and activity, the Socialist Party has presented itself as the party of the common people, the party of the underprivileged classes. Farmers, workers, intellectuals, and small and medium-sized property owners have, and will have, in the Socialist Party a source of hope and a defender of their interests. - The Socialist Party is connected with a democratic culture that has developed a sense of responsibility and has genuinely distanced itself from everything wrong in the past, while - The Socialist Party is an organized party with a presence throughout the country. As such, it will know how to prove itself in this election campaign. As a party of the center-left, the SP is capable of responding to the demands of the times. Dogmatism and disregard for today’s changes are foreign to it. It has not only reformed itself, but is also able, by winning the confidence and votes of the electorate, to solve the acute and difficult problems facing our country. - The Socialist Party has many friends and connections around the world, including the Italian Socialist Party, PASOK, and many other well-known Socialist and Social Democratic parties, such as those of Austria, Israel, Hungary, Switzerland, etc. The Socialist Party candidate for parliament in Zone 40, Eurosocialist Alfred Trebicka, held a meeting with residents of several blocks in Neighborhood No. 10. The candidate was presented to the voters by Ilo Kostandini, a member of the Steering Committee of the Socialist Party in the Korçë district, who also spoke. The candidate for parliament, he said, belongs to Albania’s youngest generation. (Continued on page 2)

THE WORLD PREJUDGES NO ONE THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND WILL FAVOUR ALBANIA — Letter from the IMF Managing Director, Mr Michel Camdessus, addressed to President Ramiz Alia — In a letter that Mr Michel Camdessus, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, sent to the President of the Republic, Ramiz Alia, it is emphasized that, in view of the financial situation of some low-income countries, the IMF administration has proposed reviewing and increasing the number of countries receiving special assistance under the Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility (ESAF). Expressing his satisfaction, Mr Camdessus informs President Alia that, at the end of February 1992, the IMF Executive Board decided to include Albania on the list of countries benefiting from and favoured by the above-mentioned programme. Thus, our country will have the opportunity to obtain loans from the ESAF programme at very low interest rates and on favourable terms, with a very long repayment period. According to the Managing Director’s assessment, the IMF’s ESAF programme has worked and continues to work towards adjusting economic proportions and implementing structural reforms, revitalizing the market and achieving financial balance. This assistance programme is a medium-term programme, from which Mr Camdessus hopes Albania will benefit considerably. The President of the Republic, his spokesperson, Mr Bashkim Hoxha, announced, met with Prime Minister Ahmet and the Minister of Economy, Konda, with whom he discussed the readiness required of state bodies and specialists to implement this programme successfully and ensure the benefits arising from it. At the same time, he instructed these bodies to enter into dialogue immediately with the IMF administration in order to learn more about the forms and methods of cooperation.

This is not democracy While yesterday the capital’s walls were bursting with wise and friendly slogans, slogans for justice and social peace, for democracy and a national government put up by the Socialist Party, a BLACK HAND began to deface them one by one. Boys, cowards are afraid of the truth. And, naturally, terrified of it like the devil of incense, they try to erase it, because it hurts their eyes, because it prevents them from taking power, prevents the new would-be bigwigs from taking their seats in office. And how can you hand power over to those who want to seize it? VIOLENCE? Our people know what democracy is; they recognize the dignity of democrats, regardless of which opposition party they belong to. But now many Albanians know—and have even felt firsthand—the pseudo-democracy, the hysteria and the monstrous slanders of their leaders. Through these lines I wanted to underscore one thing. A heated temper, a heart of stone, a hand with claws reaching farther and farther, a mouth gaping and screaming, wanting to smear the flag with filth, to sully the people’s honour, to wage psychological terror against the frightened and wavering (because they can never, ever put pressure on the brave). A black hand reaches farther and farther; there are no steps it will not take; a mouth screams and spews abuse to bring everything down, to overturn everything. But the people know the voice raised up high and say: Hands off! Shut your mouths, accustomed to slander and insults! There will be no more dictatorship in Albania. Victory belongs to the Socialist Party. Love for it is warm and inseparable from love for the nation. PAVLLO QUIDIDDE 7.3.1992

... but is irresponsible and dangerous for the people. ...

ELBASAN During the last two months, around 130 new members have been admitted to the ranks of the SP in the district of Elbasan. They come from the «Kongresi i Elbasanit» neighborhood, the «Vullnetari» neighborhood, «Aleksan-der Xhuvani» University, the Dumre area, Labinot-Fushë, Shushica, Zavalina, Karina, Katund i Ri, etc. Almost all of the newly admitted members are young, and some are Eurosocialists.

Early elections, two of them within the space of a year, are imminent. After them, Albania will have its second pluralist parliament. Yet, contrary to the interests of this people and the good of democracy, the country has been engulfed by complete anarchy. Destruction, theft, looting, and mass arson have become everyday phenomena. The state and its not inconsiderable administration, unable to fulfill the role assigned to them, are pretending to do so. The slogan «Eradicate communism» is being put into practice by eradicating cities, warehouses, factories, schools... Hooliganism and crime are in full bloom. No one can clearly predict what tomorrow will bring. Who does anarchy serve?... For more than a year and a half, the phenomenon of mass destruction has taken on the character of an epidemic. Remember Shko-[?]drën, Kavajë, Durrës, Elbasan a year ago. Remember Tirana. Fires, smoke, destruction, gunshots. Millions and millions of lek lost. Meanwhile, fear, anxiety, insecurity, and terror took hold among the people. In short, this was the epilogue to last year’s March 31 elections. And the result? «Democracy» won in the cities mentioned above. What did you ex[??]pect! And, as if one criminal tragedy were not enough: April 2. Accusations, threats, facts, slander, false testimony in the press too, politicized judges. The district police chiefs are in prison. They have still not been tried, because the prosecution and the court do not know whom to pass the «ball» to. This is where a host of other slogans originated, such as «Dismantle the Ministry of the Interior!», «Destroy the State Security Service!», «Disband the army!» and so on and so on, like th-[?] [?] which are equivalent to calls such as: «Charge the bayonets and steal whatever you can, because there are no police!», «Go after the hooligans and criminals, burn the cities and destroy everything, because nobody will stop you!» And, ironically, in parliament opposition deputies scream for the restoration of law and order and the return of peace. But who disrupted public order? Who destroyed peace? Who led the crowds at illegal rallies? The Socialists? Ordinary people? Absolutely not. No Socialist has been recorded among those caught by the public order authorities stealing or setting fires, destroying or raping. Ask the gentlemen which party the people arrested for carrying weapons without a permit or for theft belong to, and you will be convinced. Just be kind enough to ensure that your «democratic and transparent» press publishes their «party affiliation». After that, ask the people for their vote, since (Continued on page 4)