Sali Berisha—he has nearly filled the media with “manipulated RTVSH,” through his covert communications; was he really putting democracy in Albania in order? In the eyes of the director general of this institution, the great value of its programs for public opinion became even greater—not only in Albania, but on other continents as well. We watched closely as spectators, to “catch” the alleged manipulations by the communist-socialists, and were pleased to see that the TV programs were fair, impartial, and free from partisan passions and preferences. Nevertheless, after all those endless debates in parliament, after the strike by the “majority” of this institution’s employees, our conscience agreed that we should support approval of RTVSH’s status and the formation of a governing council from which the director general would also be selected. We believed in the “heroic” struggle of Sali Berisha and the DP parliamentary group, and did not think that all this uproar was boundless demagoguery intended to get RTVSH into their hands and use it as a loudspeaker for the DP and its leaders during the election campaign. We have no intention of presenting the facts here, since they are well known, but we address the country’s entire democratic public: every day, something about the DP and Sali Berisha appears on screen. Do opposition gentlemen now consider TV untruthful? Is RTV only politicized now, when it even carries reports on Mr. Sali’s rallies? Is RTV considered to be working for “democracy” only now that it has been turned into an appendage of the opposition press? There are many questions one could ask. Albania’s truly democratic public is deeply dissatisfied and outraged by this opposition betrayal. But such betrayals are neither the first nor the last committed by the opposition. To win votes and secure seats for its clan and leader, the DP now praises highly, in the most dazzlingly flattering phrases, the peasants it called “ignorant” until yesterday. Does anyone believe this nonsense, as the people say? We have had our fill of the opposition DP’s demagoguery! Enough! We only wish to protest against the President, who remains silent on this issue. RTV’s conduct stirs up and deepens divisions among the people and between the parties, further fueling confusion and chaos. If you are not dealing with RTV, Mr. President, we would like to ask: are you dealing with the people?! We wish to protest against RTV employees and ask them: Why are you doing this, dear fellows? Are you democrats, or are you protesters belonging to one party or another? We wish to protest against the Prime Minister, Mr. Wilson Ahme-ti, and state that the government must immediately restore order in this country! Finally, we also call on the Central Election Commission to demand full enforcement of the election law. Describing the situation by saying “RTV is in the DP’s hands” or “We have nothing to do with RTV because parliament has been dissolved” solves nothing. We demand that everyone intervene energetically and ensure RTV’s genuine independence and impartiality. The new monism is appearing on our screens at every turn. We Albanian socialists are determined to fight it and uproot it once and for all, whenever it appears—and it will appear again. We call on everyone to show tolerance and understanding, but tolerance, too, has its limits. Whoever tramples on democracy should know that they have trampled on the people’s will. And do not forget that on March 22 the people will once again express their will; we state our view publicly: no one will again enjoy the privileges that monism secures for a few leaders. Do not wear the people out any further! Muhamet Bilbashi, Ramadan Çollmollari, Mehmet Malocalaj, Milo Leka, Sali Kadia, Xhemil Velaj, Ferhat Camaj, Zenel Delilaj, Sofie Kreta, Ilmi Çela, Shaban Reka, Faki Malile, Bajram Xhaferi, Mirdash Braçe, Osman Bociostrati, Servet Zeneli, Ahmet Avreci, Selam Rama, Shefqet Rakipi, Aristidh Sula, Faslli Frashëri, Vangjel Daci, Dhimokli Nasi, Arif Hasani, Halil Lumo, Kujtim Serani, Josif Plaku, Osman Vaze, Sabuddin Xhafa, Ymer Boci, Violeta Hoxha, Mustafa Hoxha, Myzeqen Shtjep, Leni Leka, Arta Tabaku, Beqir Gjoni, Avdura-man Sako, Thanasi Sako, Ali Lala, Ali Gjata, Tasim Kadilli, Hyrie Malocalaj, Skënder Zhurda. Residents of the neighborhoods of the textile combine—Tirana ...sary. ...ë ... true- ... this ...his ... meet... ... D... ...gentlemen ... of ...his ... in ... of ... ... ...ocratic of the country what will ... on screen the demagoguery of the DP. ... of Sali Berisha. Could it be that now, gentlemen of the opposition, you consider TV independent? Could it be that only now, when RTV even broadcasts news...

Yesterday the first issue of “Ora,” published by the PS Shkodër, came out. Is this a new voice for democratic opinion, or, as its first leading article puts it: “IT IS THE HOUR of the bells of democracy, ringing to bury a dark monist era and welcome a road filled with the light of prosperity. IT IS THE HOUR when dark forces, always disguising themselves, are trying everywhere to sow turmoil and anarchy, to confuse a tired people exhausted by this long suffering. It is the hour when Kosovo, this ancestral stronghold of the nation, stands face to face with the fiercest enemies of our sacred homeland and is turning its eyes toward the motherland. Our newspaper comes to meet with you at this historic hour. Therefore, we believe that now or never is the time for us all to build; to stop vandalistic destruction; for everyone to strive wherever they are, regardless of their convictions; to think entirely of our wise and brave children and grandchildren, and of our homeland, the temple to which we all turn in prayer. Let us talk together; there are many things that concern us.” The reader now holds a fragile creation, a new voice for the socialist alternative. Let us leave it to the reader to care for it, so that it may grow up healthy and pure. May it be the true face of the people of the ancient city. We wish it a successful journey!

From the series: THE DP’S OTHER FACE The truth that the Socialist Party has stood, and continues to stand, for national reconciliation and unity is beyond question. No body of this party has ever opened—or intends to open—files, compile biographies, or stigmatize what one person did, what another did, who one is and who another is. The best biography of every Albanian is written through their work and the sweat of their brow in the struggle and efforts for true democracy and for Albania’s interests. But in these lines we also wanted to highlight one concrete fact: who are the supporters, the allies of the Democratic Party? You can learn this truth from the newspaper “Balli Kombëtar,” from statements by the Nationalist Party, which publishes on its front page the Nationalist Party’s declaration entitled “National Unity,” followed, perhaps, by the signature: “The Nationalist Party ‘National Unity’ will vote for the Democratic Party.” Woe to democracy, seeing what it is going through! A game for the Party... In the country, this so-called “National Unity” party has been hastily set up; even worse, it calls for “...”; the walls?... It spews venom, and all of them ... Shegjet Musaraj. Ultimately, as for the DP and the so-called opposition coalition, let all the “desperate overthrown” join them, all those parties that emerged from the country’s elections and parliament; they will not win. Those political forces that want to turn Albania back cannot win; neither can those forces that want to divide it into pieces and put dark forces, themselves, at the head of this state.

The gang of paint-slingers While sympathizers of the Socialist Party, the Eurosocialists, wrote some perfectly ordinary slogans for the election campaign (for voting day on March 22...), a gang of sick paint-slingers took to the streets and wrote unusual, un-Albanian, anti-democratic slogans. Influenced and led by the pseudo-democrats, inside and outside the DP, they covered the walls of large and small streets with slogans and a banal, uncultured catchphrase. Naturally, the “soldiers,” obediently serving evil, cannot use any other terminology or vocabulary than the language of the streets. Passersby in the capital walk and make their way along the boulevard to their homes, casting a sharp glance at these poisonous mushrooms, these bastard offspring of the fallen classes, who, with the courage of terrorists, attack democratic and reasonable people, who have endured so much hardship and made so many sacrifices. Because, according to them, some people have the right to write slogans while others do not; some have the right to organize rallies while others do not; some have the right to win while others do not... The other side, in opposition to the opposition, does not touch these “disruptions”; these people are mentally sick, and an honest person would look them in the eyes and confront the public. Our people, the ...; the Socialist Party’s MPs know that, despite the aggressive, manipulative activity of DP leaders from the streets all the way to RTV, and despite the activities of the paint-slinging squad, they will not lose but will gain many more sympathizers and voters, just as they know they will ultimately win the great vote, the free vote of free people. Do the socialists destroy things? The people see the DP slogans that have remained untouched since last year and draw their conclusions.

LET US TRY SOMETHING FOR ONCE: THE OPPOSITION?… Opposition leaders: “Aksham Vezir, Sabah rezil!” Yesterday, in a tense setting at the Election Committee, Socialist Party leaders and a group of young Eurosocialists met with Bashkim Zeneli, the Party’s Secretary for Foreign Relations. A conversation took place among them, clearly expressing the young people’s particular interest in the problems facing the situation in the country and the approaching elections. After they had spoken about the many concerns facing the Albanian left over time, which have increased and accumulated recently, Bashkim Zeneli said that this situation was pushing the period up to ... ... the Election Committee into anarchy and uncertainty. It is known that some opposition parties and their leaders are inciting and encouraging this. The people see this and must clearly see what is good and bad in everything. We have complete confidence that we will win, Bashkim Zeneli went on to say, because we deserve victory, because we are neither the PPSH nor the blocmen, as the opposition is trying to portray us. There is ... (Continued on page 4) Conversation with a former BSI leader, candidate in GJIROKASTËR —You are not a member of a party, but you accepted the PS candidacy. What do you see in the socialist ideal? —I accepted the PS candidacy because my socialist and democratic ideals are fully embodied in the electoral program of this party of the European left. In the socialist and democratic ideal I see the building of a truly democratic and humane society, where everyone is supported, especially society’s underprivileged groups: workers, peasants, intellectuals, women, soldiers and young people, veterans, people with disabilities and pensioners. I also see a society in which the law operates forcefully and where we are all equal before the law, Albanians and Greek, Macedonian, and other minorities alike. Finally, I envision a society with a market economy, where each person’s income and well-being are the fruits of their own work and individual initiative, not of privileges and ... (Continued on page 4)

Invitation to public debate: — Some questions for Mr. Tritan Shehu. John Megou. A name, an interview, an alibi, an intrigue, suddenly seated at the table of Albanian debate at a difficult moment. But also a very delicate one. It touched a wound that hurts us all: the matter of gold, so often discussed and praised by many. In any case, by those who possessed it—not by those who possessed it... 50 years ago. His interview immediately caused a sensation in public opinion. Various people began asking questions in the streets. Others meet them only rarely. But... John Megou is different. The newspaper «24 orë» published a photograph of him in the role of a porter—in Vietnam... The photograph is very telling: John Megou with a submachine gun in his hand! Sensation or truth? Have I really seen him? Have I really seen him? I have seen that photograph. Surnames of...? Mb? of the writ... ... The alternative «S...». But plenty ... who wrote it? Is it ...? ... The John of the interview ... ... Albanian television, ... American with a submachine gun, photo-graph? This is a question whose answer everyone is waiting for, regardless of political beliefs or party affiliations, because above all we are Albanians. And one of those who might answer this question, I think, is Mr. Tritan Shehu himself, former Democratic Party MP. Because he is now an acquaintance of John Megou. Since he is also responsible for democratic transparency, he will surely answer. In this context, I invite Mr. Tritan to an honest public debate, to answer some other questions as well, if, of course, he considers it reasonable. 1. Who sent John Megou’s interview to Television? 2. Who arranged for this reporter to meet the commander of Military Unit No. 3780 in Tirana? 3. Is it true that, of the two vehicles and the field with aid that ... to open a report, their drivers have ...? ... and ... ... a ... for pion... in ... of ... in ...? 4. Is it true that John Megou travelled by military helicopter from the Lapraka airstrip in the direction of Saranda, Puka, the village of Krej-Lurë in the district of Dibra, etc.? As is clear from the questions, the issue is not simply just an interview. It is much broader, and perhaps others who head the Ministry of Defence, the Prosecutor General and others can clarify it for us. In closing these lines, Mr. Shehu, I would also like to ask you some questions: Did Television do the right thing by broadcasting John Megou’s interesting interview so easily and so quickly? Would it not have been better for the Democratic Party if it had been broadcast on the evening of 21 March, that is, one day before the elections? Such intrigues are natural before elections, especially when you want to seize power at any cost!... I ask you these questions because, God forbid, if I lose my mind and answer on tape, declaring that the aid brought to Albania by the former American mercenary in Vietnam was ... Tritan Shehu, or some other gentleman from the DP, would Albanian television, which broadcasts an interview with a foreign citizen, broadcast my interview too?!... Because I know that if I slandered the President or one of the leaders of the Socialist Party, it would not be welcome. ...is... ... true... ...his ... meet... ... And ... ...t... ...that ... ...ar ...

«Political virginity «Mr. Ceka, with an arrogance surpassing that of Enver Hoxha in his day, claims that he joined the DP to give it his own good name and complains that they did not return his name to him unsullied. He forgets that a girl must guard her virginity herself and not remember it after willingly having gone through some brothel». (A. Baleta. «Zëri i Rinisë», 11 March 1992). God save us! The only party in which Mr. Ceka is active was the DP...

On 10 March 1992, a ceremony establishing diplomatic relations between the Republic of Albania and the Republic of Slovenia was held in the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana. The agreement establishing diplomatic relations was signed on the Slovenian side by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dimitrij Rupel, and on the Albanian side by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ilir Bocka. During his stay in Ljubljana, the Albanian Foreign Minister, Ilir Bocka, was received by the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Mr. Milan Kucan, and by Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Leo Shesherka, and held official talks with his Slovenian counterpart, Mr. Dimitrij Rupel. During the meetings, Mr. Ilir Bocka discussed relations between the two countries, their prospects and the real possibilities of making them concrete as soon as possible with his Slovenian friends. They also focused in particular on the latest developments in the Yugoslav crisis and, in this context, on the place occupied by the issue of the Albanians in this crisis, especially that of Kosovo.

The chairman of the Central Election Commission, candidate of physical sciences Nikola Nosi, gave the following statement to the correspondent of the Albanian Telegraphic Agency: «The Central Election Commission continues to work towards holding the 22 March elections in accordance with the People’s Assembly’s “Election Law” and European and international standards. The Central Election Commission has received from the constituencies the candidacies for the People’s Assembly and is checking that they are in order. So far, the registration documentation for 512 candidacies has been reviewed. During this review, documents found to be irregular were returned to the various constituencies for reassessment. So far, 11 political entities have submitted their candidates for the People’s Assembly: the Socialist Party, the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, the Social Democratic Party, the Agrarian Party, the Union for Human Rights Party, the Communist Party, the Democratic Party, the Popular League Party, the Ecological Party, the Universal Party and, in some constituencies, the Democratic Party in coalition with Bleri’s party. The average number of candidacies per constituency is 5. We will now specify the lists for the parties’ additional seats. These days the Central Commis-... ...sion is working to establish and fully equip as soon as possible approximately 600 polling stations in cities, neighbourhoods, districts and villages, and to draw up and publish the voter lists. Meanwhile, the Central Election Commission has taken all measures to secure the documentary materials needed for the 22 March elections, such as voter lists, ballot papers, minutes, ballot boxes and other material resources. Despite the efforts, we still face difficulties securing telephone connections in all areas, communications, etc.»

The divided DP is gripped by feverish zeal for power. As it “renews” its ranks, it increasingly emerges like a raven’s chick. What a historical misfortune to entrust the country’s future to a party that cannot govern itself!