Yesterday, at the press conference, President Ramiz Alia answered a foreign journalist’s question concerning the issue of the gold: Regarding this issue, I have assigned the Prosecutor General to investigate. According to all the official documents, it turns out that during 1990, the year the foreign citizen in the interview was referring to, it is not true that 10 tons of gold were sent to Switzerland, but only 3.2 tons of gold. This is confirmed by documents, and the gold was sent there by decision of the Council of Ministers for the needs of the economy. The President showed journalists the documents he had on this issue. Thus the much-inflated bubble bearing the name “Me Ghou” burst,

Dear Socialists, Sisters and brothers, Dear friends,

Interview with Mr. Ramiz Hyseni, a political persecuted person who served a 26-year sentence in the “famous” Burrel prison — Those who organized the rallies to entrench communism are the very people who yesterday led the communist party organizations and today wave the flag of democracy. — Ramiz Alia has considerable merit for his activity in the processes of society’s emancipation. Even if, during the one-party system, while at the top of the pyramid, he owed the nation and homeland something, he has reassessed his negative influence well and committed himself to repaying the nation and homeland as soon as possible. Although he treated us political prisoners very mercilessly. Alia has considerable merit, even though he knew very well how we had been sentenced. When he released us from prison, he left us out on the streets without providing even the minimum means of subsistence people need (a bite to eat and shelter), although he knew very well that we were the most afflicted part of society and the nation’s greatest wound. Question: What are your thoughts on national reconciliation and unity? Answer: We Albanians, at moments in our history, have been at odds with ourselves. This has also been a reason for foreigners to strike at us. We make many efforts, but quickly go along with evil, and often quickly end up with a noose around our necks as a nation. The question of national parties is a very delicate and equally important issue; without overcoming this obstacle, national unity cannot even be contemplated. Yes, I believe in the logic that national unity is necessary and will be achieved by all Albanians. Question: Mr. Ramiz, pluralism in Albania is a reality. What do you think of the call: “The Communist Party is legitimate”? Answer: In my opinion, only an anarchistic and undemocratic mind could make such a call. However, in Albania we still have not learned what the word democracy and pluralism mean. Therefore, that call has lost its moral and political meaning, because it is ridiculous to make such a call; it is an utterly vulgar act. I am completely certain that this call was made by the neocommunist troika and used as a means of deception; it resembles the cry a thief makes (“Stop the thief!”). Question: Mr. Ramiz, in your opinion, what is behind the chaos and anarchy in our country? Answer: Sali Berisha and his gang had seized power right at the door of communist darkness and were waiting for the Albanian people to come out that door so they could pounce on them and snatch even the few things Enver Hoxha and his gang had left. Nevertheless, the bandit Berisha and his companions held up a banner reading: “Heroic Tirana with the Democratic Party.” The people immediately recognized that they were dealing with a communist gang and accepted giving up the few things they had left rather than returning to Enver Hoxha’s hell. Those who organized the rallies to entrench communism in Albania are the very communists who yesterday led the communist party organizations and today wave the flag of democracy. In my opinion, Sali Berisha is the embodiment and personification of Enver Hoxha. Question: Mr. Ramiz, the election campaign is continuing in our country these days. Can you tell us what you think of this campaign? Answer: In my opinion, this is not an electoral campaign connected with democracy, but a battle, a war: all night long, the shots of revolvers and automatic weapons do not stop. When you watch television and see murders and all kinds of crimes, you realize that an act of violence is being imposed on the nation. Thus, I wish to declare before the conscientious national and international public that I will… Interview by: P. XHIXHA (Continued on page 3)

The election campaign is coming to a close. In three days, the people will have their say; with their wisdom, intuition and experience, they will know how to give their vote to the party they prefer and to the candidate they judge to be the most honest, the most patriotic and the most determined to defend the interests of the homeland and advance the new democracy in Albania. The people of March 2 have arrived. The parties are seriously concerned about the results they will achieve on election day. But the greatest concern should be: what will happen afterward? Party propaganda has fed people assurances of absolute victory. The important thing is that tomorrow’s euphoria should not turn into absolute disappointment. Serious parties have prepared themselves and their electorate for the possibility of defeat as well. The election result is the verdict of the people. Everyone must have the strength and courage to submit to their will, knowing that the greatest tasks begin after the elections. Economic reform has now been formulated as a concept. What must change is the old way of production. But what will be built in place of what has been cast aside? The essence of economic reform is the transition to a market economy, giving land to the peasant, privatizing trade, services and small industries, creating conditions for cooperation with foreign capital and guaranteeing it. Constitutional reform began with the first pluralist Albanian parliament. Nevertheless, that parliament left the country with an incomplete and temporary constitutional law. The adoption of a new, modern constitution is an essential condition for drawing up a series of new codes and laws in the future, so that our society can break away from old relations and regulate the new relations that have arisen and will arise in Albania. Alongside constitutional reform, institutional and administrative reform is equally important. Human rights and freedoms are not secured merely by proclaiming them. The basic condition for this is an effective separation and independence of powers. In addition to the legislative power, we need an independent and strong judiciary. If, after the elections, we want a strong executive branch, with an efficient central government, it will be able to implement its program only with a local government elected and organized in the form and manner required by the political and ideological times. Current developments in our country and around us are accompanied by serious risks to the sovereignty and freedom of the homeland and to the fate of Albanians living in the former Yugoslav federation. Great ambitions are being displayed by certain chauvinist circles of Megali Idea. It is up to the parties to create a climate of principled cooperation to solve the problems facing the country. This is what the homeland demands today; this is what the people expect. A climate of cooperation and common language does not mean the abandonment of ideological and political creeds or polemics between different parties, nor does it necessarily mean sharing the power entrusted by the electorate. although new, has shown at every step and commitment to the genuine rebirth assessed the history of our people and country; we have unequivocally defended and valued the Anti-Fascist National Liberation War, the toil and sacrifices of the honest people of the nation in rebuilding the country and in the progressive socioeconomic transformations since liberation. Every day, people increasingly recognize in the Sociali- …[?] opposition parties. abilities in the democratic life of the country political, economic and social objectives and solutions, realized in a short period, have won strong and broad support among all strata, professions and age groups of our society. The meetings of Socialist candidates for parliament have been warm. Firmly grounded in democracy and patriotism, they have… the communist organizations and today wave the flag of democracy.— The Socialist Party has presented its profile as a new party of the European left… …sacrifices homeland. These truly high qualities radiated by Socialists of every stratum and age group of our people demonstrate the true values and character of Albanians and are a great hope for the fate of Albania and our nation. party of the European left… circumstances, representing the high ideals of the Eurosocialists as a guarantee for their future. The arrival and entry into our Party also carries a message of hope and good wishes for the renewal of all the country’s political forces, as a necessity for the democratic rejuvenation of Albanian society as a whole. human and natural potential we have with investments from abroad. It regards the stabilization of public order and the establishment of the rule of law, the consolidation of democratic institutions and their protection, and the establishment… the establishment…

WORKERS AND PEASANTS, YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN, INTELLECTUALS AND VETERANS, SOLDIERS AND OFFICERS! • A vote for the SOCIALIST PARTY guarantees the fulfillment of your wishes and your will. • Democracy will win. Do not be deceived by the opposition’s empty promises. • With your vote, clear the way for social peace and say “stop” to dictatorship. Dear Socialists, Sisters and brothers, Dear friends, We have thus arrived, after a tense election campaign, at a historic moment. In 3 days, the entire people will freely express their will concerning their future and Albania’s future, the future of the nation. We hope, and are deeply convinced, that people will judge calmly and realistically which political force they will trust and give their vote to. Even in a short time, people have recognized the Albanian Socialists as the largest political force, the most organized, and one with authority and weight in the country’s democratic life. Although our party is new, at every step it has shown balance, resolve and a democratic spirit in overcoming today’s crisis, as well as a commitment to rebuilding the values of the nation. We have always placed the national interests and those of Albania above party interests; we have realistically assessed the history of our people and country; and we have unequivocally defended and valued the bearers of the great ideals of humanism, freedom, democracy and social justice, solidarity and progress. That is why we have unshakable faith in victory. The people know the contribution of the Socialists to the adoption of genuinely democratic laws for the benefit of the majority, and have appreciated the stance and restraint of the members and supporters of our Party, and of its representatives in parliament, in government and in local government, in relation to all the events that have taken place in the country. The people have seen members and supporters of the PS remain calm and restrained at all times in the face of psychological and physical pressure, terrorist acts, and those responsible for deceiving people through opposition propaganda. On the basis of people’s conviction that the Socialist Party has democratic and humane qualities, their confidence in its leadership abilities in the country’s democratic life was created and grew. Our Party’s electoral program, its main political, economic and social objectives and solutions, and the achievements it offers have won support and fostered optimism about the future of the country’s democratic development and its integration into the civilized world. Our party, both before and during the election campaign, has faithfully observed the laws in force and the requirements of the electoral law. Our members and supporters have firmly condemned anti-democratic and anarchic acts, which carry the grave danger of destroying the democracy we are building with such sacrifice, by right-wing extremists. Socialists, wherever they live and work, have always respected the law and will continue to do so; they are honest and concerned for the country’s future, democrats determined to defend the freedom and progress of our beloved homeland. These high qualities radiated by Socialists from every stratum of society, and the accusations made by opposition parties. Living proof of our growth and of the correctness of the course we have chosen is the force of more than 130,000 PS members, together with the fresh energy of more than 25,000 members of the Albanian Eurosocialist Youth Forum. These young people knew how to find the right direction in these turbulent and difficult circumstances, representing the high ideals of the Eurosocialists and serving as a guarantee for their future. Greetings from comrade Fatos Nano European left-wing in its substance, with its concrete program and positions. It has resolutely completed the process of its full renewal and has continuously grown in both size and quality. The members and supporters of our party, whose numbers have grown without interruption, have understood the substance of our renewal process and the unfounded accusations of the for their future. Our homeland has entered, in an unmistakable way, a period of difficult transition. The economic crisis has weighed upon every aspect of life in the country. High inflation, near-total unemployment, speculation, rising crime and an almost complete absence of the rule of law have threatened the peace and security of life, bringing a crisis of confidence and a serious threat to democracy. The deafening propaganda, laden with slander, attacks and deception, with truths and falsehoods, is not helping people understand the grave situation within and around the country or assess the true way out. Our Party’s program, its positions and the humane and democratic solutions it offers are a great hope for overcoming the situation and a real basis for optimism about Albania’s future. Our party makes no empty or unattainable promises. Its objectives are balanced; they fairly match our real possibilities and the human and natural potential we have with a market economy with a social dimension, the protection and guarantee of people’s freedoms and rights in accordance with international standards. It supports developing the economy in the city and the countryside, not by starting from zero, but from the economic base that can function and be set in motion, while attracting foreign capital on a broad scale into our economy. That is why we address the country’s workers with solutions for their return to work, so that they may become owners and worthy partners in cooperation with foreign capital. We have great confidence that the problems arising among the Albanian working class will be overcome within a short time, and that in the Socialist Party it will find the genuine, organized defense of its interests in a market economy. We appeal to our wise peasantry, so highly valued, and possessing a great democratic and patriotic spirit, to have confidence in its future. The Socialist Party…

What we are about to describe happened before 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 17 March 1992. Our car stopped immediately. We asked the driver: “Why did you stop?” “Just look for yourselves,” he said. A long line of cars was approaching, honking and signaling for us to stop. At the end of the convoy came three large vehicles (trucks), uncovered and painted yellow. They were packed full of people shouting. Each had 300 or 400 people. Both the cars and the trucks were waving flags. The heads sticking out of the cars and those visible in the trucks were unshaven and bearded. They thought the Kinostudio was shooting some kind of cowboy film. We were in the village of Harizaj in Kavajë. The “Kinostudio” cars set off toward the village of Luzi i Vogël. What a sight! Eight or nine people got out of the car and began talking to some travelers. They started grabbing them by the jackets and hitting them with fists and kicks. We wanted to get out of the car, but about ten people stopped us, saying: “Get inside or we’ll get you; now we’ve got you. Long live Sali Berisha!” An old man, after managing to break away from the travelers, came and got into our car. “Drive, man, they’re killing us!” he said. We asked the old man what was happening. He began to explain. “Why didn’t you stay in the village? Don’t you know Sali is holding a rally today? You scoundrels, you thugs, have you become the murderers—